The Observatory
This London Design Festival exhibition celebrates interdependence in creative practice. Across art, design and performance, work by students and staff demonstrates creativity as a connector: of people, places and ideas.
Here, we counter the idea of a solo innovator to demonstrate how creative practice – and creative education – relies on an interdependent network of people, moments, spaces, resources and skills. A discovery in the Grow Lab, a conversation over a beer, a well-thumbed library book, a new tool that opens up possibility, a mistake that became a breakthrough.
Each exhibit brings with it a story of iteration, exploration and conversation. Our Observatory invites you to look closer, to examine creativity as a process and to witness transformation.
Step inside and connect with the life and work of Central Saint Martins.
Coffee morning at the Observatory
Thursday 19 September, 11am-1pm
During London Design Festival, join the Observatory curators, designers and exhibitors for an informal coffee in the Lethaby Gallery and take a closer look at some of the projects in the show, including Felix McCrossen-Sadler's ReRoasted, which explores new ways of working with spent coffee grounds in ceramics.
Designing for Wellbeing: panel and networking
Wednesday 9 October, 6–8pm
Niamh White, co-founder of Hospital Rooms, will be joined by exhibitors from The Observatory, the Central Saint Martins exhibition for London Design Festival, as well as graduates from the Hospital Rooms Showcase collection and Rachel Segal Hamilton, writer, editor and member of the UAL Showcase team.
Book your ticket for Designing for Wellbeing on Eventbrite here
Design in 2040: panel discussion
Wednesday 16 October, 6–8pm
Chaired by Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices at Central Saint Martins, this panel discussion will open up perspectives on futures for professional design practice.
Book a ticket for Design in 2040 on Eventbrite here
SOUNDING: the collective presents [SOUNDING:]²
Wednesday 23 October, 6-9pm
[SOUNDING:]² aims and hopes to platform a mixture of multidisciplinary artists. People who use sound as their medium for occupation and amplification. Join us for an evening of sounding interdependence.
Opening times
During London Design Festival, 14–22 September the gallery will be open Monday - Sunday, 11am–6pm.
Outside of these dates, the gallery will be open:
Tuesday - Friday: 11am–6pm
Saturday - Sunday: 11am–5pm