Today, London Design Biennale opens at Somerset House, bringing together over 40 participants from across the world to enact new forms of international cooperation and participation through design, under the theme ‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations,’ chosen by this year’s Artistic Director, the Nieuwe Instituut.

Taking over the entirety of Somerset House, the Biennale explores themes that range from the urban environment to traditional practices, sustainability to the humanitarian response to conflict. Understanding design as a collaborative practice at a time of both global challenges and a shifting geopolitical environment, ‘The Global Game’ encourages the Biennale’s participants to explore the importance of collaboration, in part with the help of a specially-commissioned, web-based game.

London Design Biennale participants are: Abu Dhabi; Ai-Da Robot; Austria; Automorph Network; Beatie Wolfe; Bidi Bidi; Care Pavilion; Chausse 36 / Germany; Chile; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denmark & Switzerland; Dominican Republic; Dubai; ETH Zurich / Switzerland; Humanitarian Pavilion; India; Inner Peace Pavilion; Italy; Japan; Malta; Mudac; Netherlands; Nigeria; PlasticFree; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; South Korea; Spain & Peru; Taiwan; The European Delegation to the United Kingdom; The Future for Beginners/Chatham House; Turkey; Ukraine; USA.

EUREKA participants are: Canterbury Christ Church University; Centre for Natural Material Innovation – Cambridge University; King’s College London; Kingston University; Lab4Living – Sheffield Hallam University; National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Royal College of Art; The Glasgow School of Art; University of Strathclyde; University of the Arts London.

On the River Terrace, the Indian pavilion evokes the multi-sensory experience of a contemporary Indian city chowk, an open market at the junction of streets. In the courtyard, Malta uses traditionally dyed natural fabrics to form a ‘street-like’ square, echoing the layout of ancient villages, alongside Turkey which brings a monumental arrangement of gateways to Somerset House.

Using the augmented reality game Pokémon GO, John Mack’s work explores how digital technology is impacting on our relationship with the natural environment in the USA’s pavilion. Chile presents a new material of woven cellulose, one which promotes collaboration between countries and the decentralisation of resources. Nigeria proposes a collection of arthropodal carbon fibre lounge chairs, inviting visitors to contemplate the nature of collaborations and conflict between the natural systems of the Amazon and Sahara. South Korea have used Mixed Reality technology to bridge the gap between the past and future in a traditional garden.

As a staple food eaten across the world, Austria focuses on the sensory experience of bread, the processes of baking and its newfound cultural significance in recent years. Ai-Da’s presence at the Biennale marks the first time a humanoid robot has used AI algorithms to design household items, continuing the conjunction of our everyday lives and AI technology.

The Humanitarian pavilion presents the Paper Partition System by Shigeru Ban which divides open spaces into areas of privacy, dignity and hope through cloth curtains and paper tubes, demonstrating the strength of ‘weak’ materials in creating these nomadic systems. Poland explores humanitarian collaboration as salvaged windows from the UK are displayed before being sent to Ukraine, to assist the reconstruction of homes in the country. Bidi Bidi reframes the conversation around what it means to be a refugee, as the construction of Bidi Bidi Music & Arts Centre in northern Uganda begins.

The ethics and politics of care are explored in the Care pavilion, considering how care might be re-imagined and supported, particularly following the global pandemic. Through music and interactive textiles in the Nelson Staircase, Inner Peace inspires visitors to rediscover peace within humanity through interactive textiles and music.

A full description of all participants is included at the end of this release.

The potential for Games to facilitate collaboration features not only in the theme but visitors will also have the opportunity to try out an algorithmically updated 21st century version of Buckminster Fuller’s 1960s World Peace Game presented by mudac, Lausanne and to play a Chatham House commissioned climate simulation, The Future for Beginners.

The Eureka exhibition, running alongside London Design Biennale, will share design-led innovation from leading research centres. It will spotlight university research departments, demonstrating cross-disciplinary invention and creativity changing the world of tomorrow.

Revolutionary projects reveal the UK’s strengths in creativity, innovation, and design. Participating research teams explore a range of topics, from ageing to city planning to Britain’s colonial history and the cultural and emotional significance of our oceans.

London Design Biennale will offer a rich public programme. The LDB Forum will take place weekly at King’s College London. The opening keynote of this year’s Forum will be given by architect Shigeru Ban, discussing his ‘Paper Sanctuary’ project on display at the Biennale. Biennale Sessions talks series will take place at Somerset House, alongside a range of other workshops, screenings and performances organised by the pavilions. Through this programme, visitors are invited to engage with design industry specialists, game-changing innovators, and leading academics to explore design’s role in creating a better world.

In the Studio, five digital pavilions will exhibit at the Biennale. These include: Chaussee 36/Germany, Dominican Republic, ETH Zurich/Switzerland, PlasticFree and Portugal.

This Biennale aims to go beyond thematic explorations to become a testing ground for real collaborations. Referencing R. Buckminster Fuller’s World Game of the 1960s, which prompted participants to collaboratively tackle the world’s problems, The Global Game encourages Biennale participants to actually collaborate with each other with the help of a specially-commissioned, web-based game designed by Amsterdam-based studio Play the City.

Victoria Broackes, Director, London Design Biennale, says:

‘The fourth edition of the London Design Biennale opens at a time of huge global challenges. For our exhibitors the desire to collaborate and drive change in the world for the better – across borders, continents and disciplines – is more important than ever. We are excited to invite Londoners and visitors to the capital to experience these multisensory and interactive exhibitions seeking solutions.’

Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director, Nieuwe Instituut, says:

‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations‘ aims to do just that—to create an alternative geopolitical landscape driven not by competition nor conflict, but rather cooperation. We all know that global challenges require global collaboration. This is easier said than done, but in some small way, we hope real international exchanges will arise from this biennial in a way that also invites visitors to become part of the process.’

London Design Biennale Medals

The following medals, designed by Shimell and Madden, will be awarded on 1 June evening:

London Design Biennale Medal, awarded to the most outstanding overall contribution.
London Design Biennale Theme Medal, awarded for the most inspiring interpretation of the theme.
London Design Biennale Best Design Medal, awarded to the contribution with the most exceptional design, presented by Avatr.
London Design Biennale Public Medal, voted for by visitors.
The first three medal winners will be selected by the International Advisory Committee & Jury composed of leading creative experts with a strong commitment to and appreciation of design on 1 June. The Public Medal, voted for by visitors, will be presented on 21 June.