London

1998 24.-27. sept At Bishopsgate Goods Yard, Brick Lane.

When Designersblock was launched in 1998 the nascent London Design Week consisted of 100% Design and a handful of small events in galleries in west London. The first Designersblock on Brick Lane East London was the first significant offsite event of the week in terms of size and quality of work and ideas, it raised the profile of the week and was credited by many as kick starting the regeneration of the Brick Lane area, attracting worldwide press coverage and attracting over 10,000 UK and international visitors over four days.

Through a combination of luck, timing and word of mouth Designersblock developed over a period of ten weeks from a small show to coincide with 100% design to a ground breaking showcase for 35 design companies from all over Europe. DB 98 took place in a diverse series of industrial spaces within the old Truman brewery on Brick Lane. The immediate critical acclaim from industry press and public put designersblock, the old Truman brewery and brick lane on the map and established the area as an international destination for contemporary design.

The first designersblock provided space for Capellini to show work by Marc Newson, Michael Young, and Michael Marriott in a presentation curated by Jasper Morrison. Blueprint had their 15th birthday party and Asplund, Snowcrash/Valvomo, Richard Hutten, Hella Jongerius, Dmd all staged their first significant UK shows. Georg Baldele celebrated his graduation from the r.c.a with two Fly Candle Fly installations. Wallpaper at the height of their powers said that we were an instigator of near hysterical interest in London’s Brick Lane area.


Graphics – Think1
Photography – Claudia Hetkamp

Exhibitors

33 UK & International Exhibitors: Amikam Toren, Asplund, Blueprint, Chris Lefteri, Copray & Scholten, DMD, DUM office, Dominic Jones, Darrel Viner, Dutch Individuals, Filter, Goods, Goods, Georg Baldele, Hella Jongerius, Ineke Hans, Invaders Plus, IJS, JKN Arnhem, Life Form LTD., Mesh, Mo Billy, NU, Optical Product Development, Proto, PUSH3D, Peppercorn, Richard Hutton, RCA Graduates ‘98, Redlohspork 1998, Sarah Staton, Simon Pengelly, Tunnel, Valvomo