Events
Set the agenda - Winter 2024
Vicky Stoakes
Communications Director
We’d usually start our winter edition of ‘Set the Agenda’ with something twinkly and festive, but this winter season, our design inspo is about as hot as it can get. Starting with the very un-wintery Miami.
Did you know that 2024 marks 40 years since the slick 80s defining TV show Miami Vice aired on TV? Beyond the fashion impact of the time, the show’s distinctive neon and green and pink pastel hued aesthetic is a go-to for anything 80s by modern designers. It’s fitting therefore that Design Miami is having a huge impact in the creative world as well, celebrating its 20th year.
But if you fancy some creative inspiration in the UK, we’ve got you covered with design at the forefront of major exhibitions around art, film and fashion. Where will you go this winter?
Design Miami (3-8th December)
One of the highlights of the global design calendar, Design Miami returns to Miami Beach, attracting leading brands and design lovers from across the world for a jam-packed line-up of exhibitions, interactive experiences and so much more. Thought provoking talks include ‘Decisions, Decisions: Museums Collecting Design’ (we’d love to see better representation for brand design beyond the usual focus of chairs!) and ‘Beyond Human: AI and the Future of Design’ (presented by MIT).
Electric Dreams – Art and Technology before the Internet – Tate Modern London (until June 2025)
The Electric Dreams exhibition at the Tate Modern is a must-see for designers, showcasing the evolution of art created with machines and algorithms from the 1950s to the early 1990s. It highlights pioneers of optical, kinetic, programmed, and digital art through immersive installations and automatically-generated works. Designers will gain insight into the origins of digital creativity, the synergy between art and technology, and how early innovations continue to influence modern design practices. Expect many Instagram and ‘tell your friends’ moments.
The World of Tim Burton – Design Museum (until 21st April 2025)
Upon seeing Burton’s drawings, his art teacher said to him, “These are just great. You keep it up and don’t ever stop.” He didn’t. Those drawings turned into films such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, whose dark, gothic, cobwebby looks earned the epithet “Burtonesque”.
This major exhibition allows a deep dive into Burton’s fantastical world, exploring his remarkable creations and key collaborations with designers. Showcasing his distinctive aesthetic and creative genius, the exhibition spans his work as an illustrator, painter, photographer, and author, exploring his iconic misfit characters and world-building. It offers insights into how cross-disciplinary partnerships enhance creative expression and designers can gain inspiration from his storytelling, unique visual identity, and the transformation of ideas into tangible, immersive works.
Vogue: inventing the runway – Lightroom, London (until April 2025)
For anyone who loves fashion and the creative expression that surrounds the major brands, this is one for you. The stunning 50 minute experience explores the history and evolution of fashion runway shows, tracing their journey from the exclusive couture salons of the early 20th century to today’s iconic pop-culture spectacles, drawing from Vogue’s extraordinary archives and vast network of contributors.
In the words of Head of Editorial Content for Vogue, Chioma Nnadi:
“It’s fitting to host this Lightroom experience within skipping distance of Central Saint Martins, where so many of the UK’s fashion students begin their journeys to becoming designers we know and love. I hope that the exhibition can be an educational tool that brings to life the most iconic cultural moments through fashion’s lens, for the next generation of aspiring designers.”
RED SETTER X D&AD DESIGN SOCIAL - February 6th 2025
We hosted our first design social in conjunction with D&AD in November and it was such a success, that we'll be doing it again! Watch our socials for more information and tickets.
