More than 1,000 industrial design experts will gather at
London’s Barbican Centre in 2025 to discuss and debate design issues of high importance.
The 34th World Design Congress will return to
London in September 2025 for the first time in 56 years under the theme ‘Design for Planet’. The theme will consider the effects of
climate change and the crucial role design has to help reduce carbon emissions and
increase biodiversity.
Architecturally brutalist Barbican was chosen as the venue
for the Congress due to its ‘iconic status as a unique and audacious building,
recognised for its famous brutalist architecture’. The congress theme also resonates with the Barbican
Renewal Programme, a project to reimagine what an arts centre can be by
protecting what people love about the complex, while delivering improved public
and creative spaces. The project aims will deliver a sustainable revitalisation
that brings underused spaces into new creative use, all without adding a single
square metre of extra building.
Charlie Smith, deputy head of sales at the Barbican, said:
We’re incredibly proud to have won an event that aligns so perfectly with the
Barbican’s unique design, cultural offerings and sustainable values. We play an
important role in providing a platform for artistic and educational work which
discusses and develops solutions for our planet and this event is an example of
that. We are excited to have been chosen for such a high-profile global event
and look forward to welcoming delegates from around the world in 2025.”
The Design Council, who have been selected to host the
event, are the UK’s national strategic advisors on design. Founded in 1944 by
Winston Churchill’s government to help drive the post-war economy, they are now
supporting the 1.97 million people working in the UK design sector to tackle
the biggest challenge of our time through their Design for Planet mission.
Minnie Moll, chief executive of the Design Council added:
“Both London and the Barbican represent the height of creativity, inspiration
and design, which is why they are the perfect choice for the 2025 Congress,
particularly with its focus on sustainability. The Barbican has
demonstrated time and again that it is a world leader in event sustainability,
and we look forward to developing the themes of the event around its incredible
offering.”
London hosted the sixth edition of the World Design Congress
in 1969, which was attended by almost 1,000 delegates from 39 countries,
including special guest of honour H.R.H. Princess Margaret.
