Designed for Life
About the exhibition
Designed for Life celebrates London College of Fashion (LCF), University of the Arts London (UAL)’s decades long commitment to using fashion, design and creative practice as a force for positive social change. Comprised of diverse projects employing textiles, design, film, photography, artefacts, personal testimonies and community building, the exhibition illustrates the transformative power of creative action in shaping our world.
Coinciding with the launch of LCF's new campus at East Bank on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Designed for Life showcases projects which foster community cohesion whilst yielding high-quality artistic outputs. Responding swiftly to social crises, these interventions offer employment and training opportunities to support those with experiences of displacement.
Through five immersive showcases, the exhibition invites visitors to explore key themes; London as home; reciprocal learning as community building; empowerment through making; the relationship between global emergency and creative expression. Across these themes are visions pertaining to a more sustainable and equitable future.
Work featured includes:
- LCF, UAL’s Portal Centre for Social Impact and its award-winning programmes
- LCF, UAL’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion's, Decolonising Fashion and Textiles project
- Centre for Sustainable Fashion's artists and researchers, Lucy Orta and Helen Storey, and their collaborators
- Nana's House; An interactive living room installation reflecting and representing a broad heterogeneity of lives and experiences in east London curated by Dr Leila Nassereldein and co-curated by community members Pallavi Chamarty, Omolara Obanishola, Dave Sohanpal and Anh Tran. Supported by Dr Michael McMillan
- Works and events by East London Art Prize recipients Woo Jin Joo, Sophie Cunningham and Alaa Alsaraji developed in collaboration with Bow Arts
- Innovative practices of Toyin Gbomedo and Noemi Gunea as part of SEEDED, an East Bank partner residency programme for east London-based creatives, communities and collectives supported by Foundation for Future London and the City of London Corporation
Designed for Life is the inaugural exhibition at LCF’s new East Bank home.
Events
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The Phenomenon of Living Room Installations + Book Launch
Join Nana's House curator Dr Leila Nassereldein in conversation with Dr Michael McMillan for the launch of 'The Front Room'
18 January -
Free Levantine Community Backgammon Night
17 JanuaryA community event with Syrian food, music & free Arabic coffee, fresh mint tea and dates to foster solidarity over a fun game of backgammon!
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Poster and Banner Making Workshop
11 JanuaryA poster and banner making workshop led by East London Art Prize shortlisted artist Alaa Alsaraji and collaborator Sabba Khan.
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Nana's House Dance Activation and Filmed Performance
23 December7 emerging movement artists breath life into Nana's House in a character activation and filmed performance directed by Leila Nassereldein.
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LCF Sampled: Designed for Life
22 NovemberJoin us for an evening of discussion and performance from the artists, designers and academics featured in exhibition Designed for Life.
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Live Performance: Tin Foil Ghost by Sophie Cunningham
22 November - 16 DecemberA new 28-day performance which subverts the current fashion trend of metallics.
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Dovetail x LCF: Patchwork Seminar-Workshop with Eileen Barnard
23 NovemberA collaboration between LCF & the Dovetail, Eileen Barnard shares her skills in patchwork as part of LCF's Cultural Programme.
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Dovetail x LCF: Art Workshop with Ivy Aubynn
29 NovemberA collaboration between LCF & the Dovetail, Ivy Aubynn shares her art skills as part of LCF's Cultural Programme.
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Panel Discussion: The Artist As Storyteller
28 NovemberA discussion curated by East London Art Prize shortlisted artist Woo Jin Joo explores the role of artist as storyteller