On the Design Guild Mark trail

London Design Festival celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world. Now in its fifteenth year, the festival will be returning to venues and institutions across the city from 16-24 September.

For fans of the Design Guild Mark, we have put together a short trail of where you can spot the companies and designers awarded the Mark of excellence in 2017.

One of the first exhibitions to kick off London Design Festival and our Design Guild Mark trail is Decorex International (17-20 September).

Celebrating 40 years in 2017 and once again returning to Syon Park, Decorex is internationally renowned for being the destination where interior design professionals discover luxury products from new, emerging and established talent.

Decorex is the place to see Benchmark Furniture. Benchmark was awarded two Design Guild Marks in 2017 for its Holworth Chair  (pictured) and Tailor Chest, both designed by Nathalie de Laval.

Linked with Decorex International but located in the creative heart of East London is the London Design Fair.

Held at the historic Old Truman Brewery, the four-day event brings together 500 exhibitors from 28 countries, including independent designers, established brands, international country pavilions, features and exhibitions.

One of the exhibitors that will be in attendance is Charles Dedman. Charles became one of the youngest Design Guild Mark awardees earlier this year when his Turner Carver, manufactured by Sitting Firm, attained the Mark of excellence.

Next up on our Design Guild Mark trail and a short tube ride from Liverpool Street to Kings Cross is Design Junction (21-24 September).

Last year the show attracted more than 27,000 visitors and the 2017 edition will present more than 200 international design brands and hundreds of product launches.

Three of the brands exhibiting at the event are Allermuir, Channels and Morgan.

Allermuir received its seventh Design Guild Mark in 2017 for its Silta Table (pictured above), while Channels founder and designer Sam Chan added two Marks to his collection for shelving systems Mr Knock 1 and Mr Knock 2.

No stranger to Design Guild Mark success, Morgan was awarded two Guild Marks in 2017 – one for its modular Valencia upholstery collection (pictured) and another for its ingenious Rio Table, which incorporates a 3D printed element.

The pièce de résistance of our Design Guild Mark trail concludes with 100% Design (20-23 September) at Kensington Olympia.

First staged in 1995, the show is a cornerstone event of the London Design Festival, with over 27,000 visitors to the show across four days.

Not only will you get a second chance to see furniture from Morgan, but Joined + Jointed – the sister company of Channels – will be showcasing some of its latest designs, which includes the Caburn Bench, which was designed by duo Wales & Wales and received DGM 173.

100% Design will also include an exclusive display (stands W650 and W655) of a selection of furniture chosen by 100% Design that won a Design Guild Mark in 2017, including Jonathan Hindle Prize winner the Keyn Chair Group.

No matter where you head this London Design Festival, if you see a Design Guild Mark piece, take a picture of it and tweet it using the hashtag #DesignGuildMark!