Johnson Rodgie looks after Wellworking's social media channels and over the course of September he's been out and about getting inspiration from what's new in design, but also how we've borrowed from the past.
If I'm being honest, before this last month my knowledge of the types of materials that could be used in furniture was pretty limited, but who would have thought you could use fungus and barley for chairs and worktops!
At the London Design Festival, it was great to see new products such as the Anagram Sofa from Vitra, and the latest collaboration between Artek and fashion designer Paul Smith with their classic Stool 60.
I also got the chance to see the Dolce&Gabbana Casa Flagship Store, which displayed iconic and recognisable patterns incorporated into home living.
Yet, what captivated me most as I toured various showcases and events, was the new resources being utilised to create day-to-day interiors.
Materials that stood out were the use of mycelium, the thread-like roots of mushrooms, and hemp to produce seating and lighting.
While on my design odyssey, I couldn't miss exploring some of the history of design at the London V&A and as a first-time visitor I was truly blown away by what lurked inside this historic building.
Throughout the museum, I also stumbled across the many contemporary installations they curated as part of the London Design Festival.
From one V&A to another, Dundee, the UK's only UNESCO City of Design, was next on the itinerary to see the different influences on design north of the border.
I was also there to visit its Design Festival which takes place in a former industrial warehouse in the city. It's the largest event of its kind in Scotland and celebrates contemporary design with exhibitions, talks, and workshops.
It aims to be the world's most sustainable design festival and it certainly felt like it. By reusing stored exhibition materials from the V&A Dundee and materials from local suppliers, they used less than 30% new materials to construct the entire event site.
The designs throughout this event made me truly appreciate how creative us folk can be. Not only did it feel like the designers were thinking outside of the box, but it also felt like they were creating a whole new box!
Some brilliant pieces of furniture even made my stomach gurgle with hunger (I’m speaking to you BLT Table)!
However, like in London, what I found most interesting again was the sustainable materials they had on display, showcasing the vast resources that can be used to create surfaces and fabric.
Alicia Storie, an Eco Interior Designer, had a space full of innovative eco materials. Two I really liked were the use of barley draff, a waste product of the brewing industry, and recycled old denim jeans.
Here again, there were also a lot of examples of mycelium, something which appears to be becoming more popular the more I see it at these festivals. In the coming years, I can really see this material becoming a more frequent addition to people’s home interiors.
If there is one thing for me to take away from these festivals, it's that the UK is really standing out and reminding people of its stamp on design. I find it mind-blowing the amount of recyclable, sustainable, and innovative materials that can be used in the process of creating furniture, and which could become the industry standards in years to come.