Sir Paul Smith is a quintessentially English designer who has created a hugely successful business that is known around the world. His original strength was in menswear, but he has expanded into womenswear, accessories and items for the home. He is described as having an ‘eclectic aesthetic’ putting antiques into his shops alongside the fashion which is often seen as classic with a twist. The collecting extends to his workspace, which has shelves of the ephemera he has collected over the years. Despite having been in business for more than 40 years and now heading up a global brand, he is still intimately involved not just as chairman but also as chief designer.

Nathalie de Leval is an independent furniture designer and maker, focusing on bespoke commissions and products predominantly in wood. Originally a sculptor, she studied cabinet making in order to improve her making skills, but the furniture quickly took over, taking her to an MA at the RCA, and from there to a series of furniture and interior projects including Browns in South Molton Street and Griffin in Portobello. Recently she has been working in partnership with Chelsea gold-winning garden designer Luciano Giubbilei on a range of garden furniture and accessories. Paul Smith chose to work with Nathalie saying, ‘Nathalie’s understanding of the materials she works with is really amazing and she combines this with fantastic craftsmanship to make something truly contemporary.’

For over 25 years the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been at the forefront of international wood promotion, successfully building a distinctive and creative brand for U.S. hardwoods. AHEC’s global programme of activities secure a future for American hardwoods by demonstrating the performance and aesthetic potential of these sustainable materials, while providing valuable creative inspiration and technical advice.

Benchmark is a leading company of craftspeople and designers, founded 30 years ago by Sir Terence Conran and Sean Sutcliffe. Based in West Berkshire on a converted farm, the team is now 50 strong in over 40,000 sq ft of workshops for timber milling, carpentry, veneering, spraying, specialist metalworking and upholstery, as well as design studio and furniture showroom. Benchmark works extensively on design solutions for hotels, restaurants, public buildings, offices and private residences.

The London Design Festival was conceived by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans. Building on London's existing design activity, their concept was to create an annual event that would promote the city's creativity, drawing in the country's greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to a deliver an unmissable celebration of design. First staged in 2003, the London Design Festival is now one of the world's most important annual design events. The estival programme is made up of over 300 events and exhibitions staged by hundreds of partner organisations across the design spectrum and from around the world.

The London Design Festival works closely with, and receives financial support directly from, the Mayor’s Office – having transferred support from the London Development Agency. The Festival also receives support from Arts Council England, as a National Portfolio Organisation 2012-15.

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The Museum holds many of the UK's national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.

James Latham

Morgan Timber