London Design Biennale has announced the first confirmed pavilions for its 2025 edition, taking place at Somerset House, in the heart of London, from June 5-29. The theme of this edition of the Biennale, ‘Surface Reflections’, explores how ideas are fuelled by both our internal experiences and external influences.
The fifth edition continues the Biennale’s mission to demonstrate how design can better the world we inhabit whilst broadening our understanding of design’s role in addressing challenges and identifying solutions. Exhibitors will share perspectives and solutions to some of the global issues that face humanity today, exploring areas from the urban environment to the preservation of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability to post-conflict recovery.
Victoria Broackes, Director of London Design Biennale, said: “Since the last Biennale, the global context has drastically changed, and the need for collaboration and exchange in a peaceful context feels more important than ever. International design teams continue to demonstrate the possibilities of and their faith in what can be achieved through design and design thinking. The Biennale reveals what is on people’s minds, across the world, right now. We will see exhibitors presenting design in all its forms -from futuristic urban planning to collaborative efforts to preserve environments.”
The first exhibitors announced are Argentina, Hong Kong, Poland, Malta, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, and Romania. Many independent projects have also been announced.
Oman draws on traditional Omani pottery to explore the balance between heritage and the digital age, with an immersive installation referencing ancient water vessels for data storage, prompting reflections on memory and value in a hyper-connected world.
Oman – Memory Grid
‘Memory Grid’ reimagines ancient vessels as a metaphor for how humanity preserves what it holds most precious. The exhibition highlights the shifting values of society and what we cherish most through the artform of Omani pottery - vessels that preserved valuable resources throughout time. The installation bridges the tangibility of ancient resources with the fragility of digital artefacts, exploring themes of survival, value, and human legacy.
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