Delve into the best of international lighting at the fifteenth edition of Surface Design Show

Surface Design Show, the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces, returns for 2020 with an impressive line-up of lighting-focused exhibitors and events. Returning to London’s Business Design Centre from 11-13 February 2020, the show provides a platform for architects, designers and specifiers to explore the best in surface materials.

Back for another year is the ever popular Light School, co-located within Surface Design Show. With London leading the charge for lighting design specification worldwide, Light School sets out to educate visitors of the importance of the relationship between light and surface by bringing together leading manufacturers and suppliers with architects and designers looking to specify their products.

Impressive exhibitors lighting up the school include Master Products, one of the UK’s leading specialists in edge-lit and backlit glass illumination; Lumino, a British architectural lighting manufacturer providing innovative, tailored lighting solutions; and Applelec, the UK trade supplier of bespoke sign, display and LED lighting products.

A key component of Light School is its stand-out seminar programme – Light Talks; a series of sessions collated by the Institution of Lighting Professionals which will underpin this knowledge sharing. The new Light Talks theatre is designed by Rebecca Weir’s Lightbout.iQ. The design will feature a range of surface materials creatively lit to emphasise the essential link between light and materials. ”Playing with light, reflectance and colour and incorporating the calming elements of biophilic design we have created an immersive, reflective space to contemplate and enjoy Light School’s lecture series’‘, said Rebecca Weir.

Light Talks hosts a packed schedule of presentations throughout the show, including two masterclass seminars uniting lighting designers with architects, interior designers and lighting manufacturers to discuss the intrinsic link between lighting and surface materials. This includes ‘Responsible lighting options in a climate changing world’ by Marcus Steffen of MS Lighting Design from 11:30am – 12pm on 12 February. ‘Collaborating with your lighting designer – Masterclass’ will be chaired by Sunny Sribanditmongkol, Studio 29, with speakers Paul Traynor, Light Bureau and Helen Berresford, Sheppard Robson at 4:00 – 5:00pm on 12 February. A highlight of Thursday 13 February is the ‘Biophilic Lighting – Masterclass’ chaired by Graham Festenstein, Graham Festenstein Lighting Design with Rebecca Weir, Lightbout.iQ talking to Oliver Heath, Oliver Heath Design from 1:00 – 2:30pm.

With light being a key focus of the show, the Surface Design Awards, which is hosted on the 13 February during Surface Design Show, has dedicated lighting categories judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts.

The awards received an impressive 39 projects across 14 categories in total, including the Light and Surface Interior and Light and Surface Exterior categories, which received an inspiring number of applications from around the globe. Entries included the bold lighting scheme from the University of Sheffield Concourse (Arup), which not only gives the university campus a strong identity but also encourages an area where students and the public can sit, dwell and relax. Located in India is the shortlisted entry Rope Terrace Café (The Grid Architects) which promotes and creates an environment that is warm and welcoming for visitors of the sustainably designed café. Key highlights from the shortlist also include The REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Steven Holl Architects) which was praised by the judges for its effective simplicity.

Tickets are free to professional and trade visitors. Registration is sponsored by Bokart Glass. Get your ticket here https://www.surfacedesignshow.com/register

Surface Design Show, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0QH 11-13 February 2020.