Wandsworth Council is proud to be taking part in London Design Festival, which celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world. The 22nd edition takes place 14 – 22 September and will highlight issues and ideas shaping the industry at large with sustainability, AI and inclusivity continuing to take centre stage.

Battersea is an area rich in industrial heritage and cultural history and has long been a hub of innovation and creativity. Home to the iconic Battersea Power Station and the renowned Royal College of Art, Battersea seamlessly blends its historical roots with contemporary advancements. 

In 2023, the Battersea Design District’s debut at the London Design Festival featured a vibrant array of events, celebrating local heritage and innovation.

This year’s Battersea Design District returns as Wandsworth prepares to become The Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture in 2025. Thanks to local partners including the Royal College of Art, daab Design, World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens and Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden, the District will offer a programme of exhibitions, workshops, architectural tours and performances by creatives living and working in Wandsworth.

Councillor Kemi Akinola, Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for culture, said: “We’re so excited to be part of London Design Festival for another year, providing access for residents to get together and unleash their creative talents. We also welcome visitors who are discovering the diverse range of artists based here in Wandsworth, as we build up to our year of culture in 2025.”

Battersea Design District is one of 11 LDF design districts across London, allowing residents and visitors to navigate the festival’s rich content, increase local footfall, and contribute to local economies.

Wandsworth Council has commissioned six projects to take place within Battersea Design District during London Design Festival 2024, alongside the wider programme.

Discover the full programme for Battersea Design District at LDF here: London Design Festival — Programme | #BatterseaLDF #LDF24

Wandsworth Council’s Battersea Design District commissions:

Fée Uhssi

History of African Fashion and Upcycling workshop

This workshop offers a deep dive into the rich history of African fashion, exploring its evolution from traditional costumes to contemporary trends. Participants will gain valuable insights into the cultural significance of African design and its influence on global fashion. The workshop will culminate in a practical upcycling session, where participants can infuse their own garments with a touch of African style.

Fée Uhssi is a Wandsworth-based Franco-Nigerian Fashion and textile Artist, Designer, and Art and Colour Therapist. This workshop is the first in a series of workshops exploring the history, the artistic techniques, and the role of textiles in the African continent and the Afro-Caribbean culture and the evolution of African fashion from traditional costumes to modern style and its influences on European Fashion.

Wed 18 September 4.30pm – 6.30pm

OSMO Battersea, 65 Nine Elms Ln, Nine Elms, London SW11 7EU

eventbrite.co.uk/the-african-fashion-and-textiles-experience

daab Design

Living with Industry: A community’s view on improving Silverthorne Road

Battersea and industry go hand-in-hand forming an inseparable bond dating back centuries. But how do industrial and residential spaces really co-exist? How can we improve the quality of our streets so residential communities and industry can live side by side for the benefit of all?

Come join us for an afternoon of community design where we will collect your thoughts and ideas on how to improve issues that impact us all regarding traffic calming, better defining our open spaces, creating much needed amenities, etc.. The work will be collated and presented to Wandsworth as a summary of a community’s view to a way forward.

Daab design Architects are a Battersea based practice looking at linking communities historically severed by Battersea’s rail infrastructure. The have co-founded Battersea Untangled a pro-development community group using co-design to forward the needs of local residents.

Wed 18 September, 4pm – 8pm, Free, drop-in.

Daab design 103 Silverthorne Road SW8 3HH

www.daabdesign.co.uk

Roopa Design

Voices of Wandsworth

Roopa Basu presents an art installation capturing the voices of the Wandsworth community, where personal messages will be transformed into a display of origami butterflies, symbolising growth, transformation, and freedom.

In a series of community workshops, Wandsworth residents of all ages were invited respond to a prompt, ‘if a butterfly could hear you, what would you say?’  The messages have been folded into origami butterflies, creating a visual tapestry of community voices. This installation will serve as a testament to the strength of community, the beauty of individual expression, and the transformative power of art. 

Roopa Basu is a London-based designer and artist who established her studio in Wandsworth in 2011. With experience across three continents, she specialises in graphic design and community-focused art projects. Roopa connects creativity with local businesses and engages global audiences through exhibitions. She believes in ‘thinking globally and acting locally.’

Mon 16 – Fri 20 September, 2pm – 8pm daily – Free Entry

Special viewing: Wed 18 September, 6pm – 8pm, bookable via Eventbrite LINK

OSMO Battersea, 65 Nine Elms Ln, Nine Elms, London SW11 7EU

roopadesign.co.uk 

Ayana Jade

Ayana’s Nine Days in Nine Elms         

The Ayana Jade Open Studio at OSMO includes a creative workshop merging foliage, calming jadeite gems and an enchanting kaleidoscope of colour with the emotiveness of ethical jade jewellery. The result is an immersive experience of touch, sight and sound.

Jadeite, revered for centuries for its beauty and symbolic connection to healing coupled with Ayana Jade’s access to ethical natural jadeite colours in cool greens, neutral whites and greys, and warm reddish browns offers a tool for a multi-sensory wellbeing experience.

Some of Ayana’s jewellery will be displayed – earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and charms made with jadeite set in recycled gold and silver.

Linda Achan is a London-based entrepreneur and jewellery designer specialising in natural resource optimisation. Her focus is implementing circular design and technology for economic and social impact. She was selected for Makers with a Mission residency at Somerset House and was shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year and Tech for Good Award of the Year categories by Women in IT UK, 2021.

Mon 16 – Fri 20 September, 2pm – 8pm daily – Free Entry

For more information visit ayanajade.com

OSMO Battersea, 65 Nine Elms Ln, Nine Elms, London SW11 7EU

Ayana Jade will also be running a free workshop for children as part of the Battersea Design District Open Day at the R.O.S.E Community Clubroom on Wed 18 September from 12:30-6:30pm, followed by an evening event for adults at OSMO. On Thu 19 September, join Ayana Jade’s Fretwork and Jewellery Soiree from 6pm – 8pm at 575 Wandsworth Rd (the home of Kenyan born poet Khadambi Asalache.) The evening includes a guided tour and a bracelet-making workshop inspired by the house.

Scene in London

Tote Bag Workshop at the R.O.S.E Community Clubroom

Print your own tote bag with Samantha Foley, the artist behind creative business ‘Scene in London’.  Experiment with paints, rollers and stamps in this fun and engaging workshop hosted at the R.O.S.E Community Clubroom in Wandsworth. You’ll get to take home your very own tote bag, an original piece designed by you at LDF2024. All ages and artistic abilities welcome. 

With a love for London and over 15 years working in the design industry, Samantha Foley started Scene In London to celebrate our great capital city and the neighbourhoods within it. Community is at the core of the business, and when Samantha isn’t designing London art prints, she’s delivering creative workshops and inspirational talks. 

The R.O.S.E. Community Clubroom is a well-used social hub where residents come together to enjoy a range of activities, from arts and culture to youth groups, exercise classes and gardening.

Wed 18 September, 12.30pm – 6.30pm, Free, Drop-in.

R.O.S.E Community Clubroom, 22 Ascalon St, Nine Elms, London SW8 4AN

ROSE Clubroom | Scene in London

Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden 

The Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden opens its doors for the day for London Design Festival audiences to discover this diverse, thriving community garden at the heart of the Doddington and Rollo estate in Battersea.

Visitors are welcome to drop into the Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden throughout the day on Wed 18 September, where there will be drop-in mosaic workshops from 10am – 5pm. Later in the evening from 6pm – 9pm there will be warm drinks and music by local musicians.

Wed 18 September, 10am – 9pm, Free, Drop in.

Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden, Entrance behind Tesco on Battersea Park Rd, London, SW11 5HD

facebook.com/DoddingtonRolloGarden

History Speak 

Art and Architecture Walking Tour of Battersea Nine Elms

Explore the history, future, and lived experience of the neighbourhood through art and architecture. The area has attracted illustrious architects, institutions, and businesses, making it a hub of creativity and innovation. The tour will start at 11 Wilcox Road, near the Rainbow Plaque for the film My Beautiful Laundrette. The experience will take you on a walk around the US Embassy, where you will see sculptures and artworks in public spaces. You will also cross the newly opened Arch 42 and explore the floating village of Nine Elms that has witnessed the city grow around it. Finally, you will walk down Yinka Ilori’s Happy Street to one of the icons of industrial Britain – Battersea Power Station. 

Manasi, Creative Director at History Speak, is a passionate community heritage practitioner and local resident.

Wed 18 September, 5pm – 7pm, Free, Booking: Art and Architecture Walking Tour of Battersea Nine Elms Tickets, Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite

Tour starts: Nine Elms Tube Station | historyspeak.co.uk