URGE highlights at LDF 2025 September 13 - 21

This year’s LDF programme is packed with talks, workshops, and exhibitions. We’re spotlighting sessions featuring URGE co-founder Ella Doran, friends of URGE, and the launch of the Design Declares Climate Action Cards, co-created with contributions from our community.

September 17-20

Shoreditch Design Triangle Tours with tokyobike

tokyobike, 87-89 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4BA

tokyobike, founded in Yanaka, Tokyo, runs a series of guided rides during the festival. Starting with coffee and a tokyobike rental, each tour follows a gentle route led by an industry figure sharing insights into installations and events.

• 17 Sept (10am–1pm): Ella Doran, Designer and Educator
• 18 Sept (10am–1pm): Vicky Richardson, Curator, Writer and Teacher
• 20 Sept (10am–1pm): Duncan Riches, Writer & Event Director

Tickets from £25

September 17-20

Material Matters

Space House, 1 Kemble St (Kingsway), London, WC2B 4AN

Material Matters returns for its fourth edition in a new venue – Space House, Covent Garden – bringing together global brands, emerging designers, and thought-provoking installations exploring how materials shape our world. Highlights include The Wood Awards, the Only Natural showcase of nature-based materials, and The Material Way, a platform for bio-based material research. Exhibitors range from 3M and MycoWorks to new talent, including Revive Innovations, FibreLab, Micaella Pedros, and Jacob Marks.

Tickets are free (trade) or £12 (public).

The Fair — Material Matters

Material Matters is a cross-media platform delivering material intelligence for architecture & design. From fairs in London and Copenhagen to podcasts, consultancy, and expert discussions, we connect designers, brands and makers shaping the future of materials. Discover events, insights and collaborations at www.materialmatters.design.

Material Matters is where Ella Doran first met collaborator Blake Carlson-Joshua in 2022. Together they now present two benches, crafted from reused wood, paint, brass, and paper, on display at The House of Icon, Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT.

Ella Doran x B.C. Joshua - Shoreditch Design Triangle

Shoreditch Design Triangle

September 18-21

Ella Doran x Well Crafted

Clifton House, 75-77 Worship St, London EC2A 2DU

A series of hands-on workshops exploring creativity, sustainability, and community through reuse. Sessions run on 18 Sept (6–9pm), 19 Sept (2–5pm & 6–9pm), and 21 Sept (2–5pm) with Ella.

Tickets via Well Crafted.

Boost Employee Well-Being Through Guided Crafts | Well-Crafted Experiences — Well—Crafted

Experience the power of creativity in the workplace. Well-Crafted delivers creative workshops that reduce stress, enhance mindfulness, and build stronger teams through engaging, hands-on crafts.

Well—Crafted0

September 17 . 17:30 - 21.00

Careering Around: Stories of Creative Journeys

79 Worship Street, London, EC2A

As the idea of a fixed career path seems a thing of the past, this event explores and celebrates the twists, turns, and reinventions that shape creative lives. Hosted by Green Lab, the event brings together Ella Doran, Sara Grady, Steve Edge, Ande Gregson, Charly Jacobs and host Mark Shayler.

September 17 . 16.00 - 17:30

Morrama Workshop: Design Declares Takeover

Hackney Depot, 5 Sheep Lane, London E8 4QS

A one-hour immersive workshop led by Jo Barnard (Morrama, Design Declares) and Guy Naor (Morrama) on reconnecting design and business with nature, co-creation, and regenerative practice. The workshop will be followed by networking, refreshments, and Morrama’s From the Ground Up exhibition.

Tickets are £5 (redeemable against the new Climate Action Cards - see below).

Design Declares Climate Action Cards

Available at a special LDF price of £25 during the Morrama Workshop, the cards were developed with the Design Council and co-created by design leaders, many from the URGE community. Featuring 52 planet-positive actions, they provide practical steps to shift practice, mindset, and business over the year ahead. Multi-purpose by design, the cards can guide your own work, inspire your team and collaborators, or support education and training.

September 18 . 18.00 - 21:00

The Right to Protest - UnPrivate View

10 Greatorex Street, London, E1 5NF

An unmissable exhibition of over 200 iconic protest posters, drawn from two of the UK’s largest private collections alongside new commissions by leading artists and designers, including Kennard Phillipps, Ackroyd & Harvey, and Stuart Semple. Many of these works have never been shown together before and may never be again. The exhibition opens with an UNprivate View and guided introductions from artists and designers.

Tickets are free.

When design fights back: The Right to Protest Exhibition – Museum of UnRest

Museum of UnRest:

Curated by Museum of UnRest and Pro Radix