Leading design shops, exhibition spaces and institutions in South Kensington, Brompton Cross and Brompton Quarter joined forces last year as the Brompton Design District. Initiated by South Kensington Estates and local organisations, the Brompton Design District re–established the presence of new design in an area renowned for its important design shops as well as its historic links with design and education since the founding of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal College of Art 150 years ago.

This year the collaboration between the creative and business sectors continues to grow with events at the institutions, pop–up exhibitions in Brompton Quarter, guerilla window displays in South Kensington and new design shops opening in Brompton Cross. Keep an eye on our exhibitions page for details.

The initiative has included temporary installations in shops and shop windows by Vessell Gallery, Ron Arad, Martino Gamper and Caravan; roaming galleries by curators Rachael Barraclough and Libby Sellers; a temporary bar designed and run by RCA students, and, for last year‘s LDF, a series of exhibitions including Townhouse DK, a mews house renovated as a showcase for new Danish design, a temporary shop by Benchmark showcasing the latest collection of handmade furniture and special exhibits by iconic design retailers such as B&B Italia, Bisazza, Mint, The Conran Shop, Rabih Hage, Smallbone of Devizes and Skandium.

Brompton Design District Partners, past and present include: 6a Architects, Artek, B&B Italia, Benchmark, Bisazza, Boffi, British Council, The Conran Shop, David Gill, Few and Far, Flower Council of Holland, Gallery Libby Sellers, Handel Street Projects, Heart and Design, Icon magazine, Piet Hein Eek, Rabih Hage, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Art Graduates, Royal Danish Embassy, Serpentine Gallery, Skandium, Smallbone of Devizes, Tom Dixon and the Victoria and Albert Museum.