London Design Fair 2018 will return this year with 13 country pavilions and exhibitors from 36 nations.  Taking place at Old Truman Brewery from September 20 to 23 during the London Design Festival, the fair will present the latest in furniture, lighting, textiles, materials, and conceptual installations from all around the world.“The Fair’s Material of the Year is plastic: hotly debated and very much a pressing concern,” states the event’s press release. The upcoming edition will explore new and better ways of using this “contentious” material.British Craft Pavilion will return to the fair for its third edition with 40 makers from varied craft disciplines including Naomi Bikis, founder of London-based Bikis Ceramics, and Christabel Balfour, known for her architecturally-inspired rugs and wall-hangings woven on a 1976 Harris floor loom, and a 1992 Don Porritt Loom.Hi Thanks Bye from Toronto, Canada, will debut its powder-coated stainless steel “Collection 0,” a sculptural interpretation of the Canadian landscape combined with a Chinese aesthetic. Helsinki-based spatial and product designer Tero Kuitunen — who works for clients such as Absolut Vodka, Aalto University, and Ivana Helsinki — will present new designs including the terracotta mix-and-match vases and Boudoir mirrors.Material designer Charlotte Kidger will show her collection of large-scale tables and vessels made from a composite material that she has created from polyurethane foam dust, a by-product of CNC fabrication.From Sweden, 13 forward-looking, young and dynamic designers will show a range of bold and innovative designs at the annual Swedish Design Pavilion. Highlights include works of glass artist Nina Johanna Christensen, Lisa Hilland who combines modern production techniques with artisanal skills, and  Swedish Ninja, founded by Maria Gustavsson known for her colorful range of lighting and furniture.Netherlands’ Dutch Stuff will feature contemporary Dutch design including the “Kink Vase” by Earnest Studio, “Oedipus” by Boris de Beijer, and “Cutting Edge” by Martijn Rigters. Czech Republic’s UMPRUM will present “Colors of Transparency” by Studio of Glass with a focus on pellucidity and hue. The highlight of Portugal’s showcase will be the “Bridge Desk” by Christophe de Sousa for Wewood. “It’s a brilliantly crafted modern desk, inspired by the city of Porto (the only city in Europe with six bridges). In creating the Bridge desk, de Sousa wanted a piece of furniture that would directly connect the user with their work/hobby — hence the name ‘Bridge,’” reveals the press release.Other highlights of the fair include a showcase of works by Seoul designers, HARU stuck-on design’s colorful adhesive tape that adds color to interiors, and furniture in vegetable-tanned leather by Barcelona-based Toru.London Design Fair runs from September 20 to September 23, 2018, at Old Truman Brewery, 26 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QRFor more information, visit: https://www.londondesignfair.co.uk Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the fair. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                       Founder: Louise Blouin   Read more