As well as over 170 exhibitors, interior designers can also enjoy a packed programme of talks and CPDs, plus the ever-popular Opening Night Debate and the lively PechaKucha evening, which will be hosted by Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects. The winners of the prestigious Surface Design Awards will also be revealed during the two and a half days.
The ‘Close to Home’ theme will look beyond aesthetics and into manufacturers’ impact on the environment, from the processes used in mining or manufacture, through to the carbon footprint sustained during sales and distribution. How to specify for design and architecture projects with a conscience will also be examined, from reusing waste materials to looking at what happens at the end of a product’s life cycle.
New exhibitors to the 2020 Surface Design Show include Wonderwall Studios, creator of joyous panelling from salvaged woods that enriches surfaces and enhances interiors, and Mortise Concrete, producer of individually designed and hand-crafted polished concrete countertops and products. Returning exhibitors include Reading-based natural stone supplier Amarestone.
As well as established brands, Surface Design Show is dedicated to promoting up-and-coming designers in the materials sector with its New Talent section, curated by internationally acclaimed speaker and forward-thinking Chief Creative Director at Trendease International Jennifer Castoldi.
In addition to materials for indoor and outdoor architectural applications, Light School is a key component of the show. Here, leading manufacturers will demonstrate the relationship between light and surfaces, as well as showcasing the latest architectural lighting products. Light Talks, a series of sessions supported by the Institution of Lighting Professionals and collated by Rebecca Weir from Lightbout.IQ, will underpin this knowledge sharing.
Surface Design Show 2020 will host approximately 30 presentations from 50 speakers across the purpose-built stages, all highly relevant for the architecture community.
Renowned practices including Steven Holl Architects, Mikhail Riches, AECOM, WilkinsonEyre and Chris Dyson Architects are among those shortlisted for 2020 Surface Design Awards, which exemplify creative use of surface materials and lighting. There are an impressive 39 projects across 14 categories in total, from retail and public buildings to commercial projects and housing, including new categories in the public realm and affordable housing for 2020. Demonstrating the truly international reach of the awards, now in their sixth year, projects on the shortlist spanned 13 countries from 34 different organisations with emerging practices represented, as well as established firms.
The esteemed judging panel is co-chaired by Paul Priestman, Designer, Co-Founder and Chairman of global design consultancy PriestmanGoode, and Amin Taha, Chairman of Groupwork and Director of Amin Taha Architects. The remaining judges are Nikki Barton, Head of Digital Design at British Airways; Sean Griffiths, an Artist, Architect and academic practicing at Modern Architect; Charles Holland, Principal at Charles Holland Architects; Glenn Johnson, Director of Design at the Advanced Design Group of Collins Aerospace; Daniel Mota Veiga, Global Head of Product Design for KEF / GP Acoustics; and Steve Webb, Co-Founder of Webb Yates Engineers.
For all things innovative in surfaces and materials, the Surface Design Show provides the perfect platform for interior designers to explore. Tickets are free to professional and trade visitors.