Entering the Victoria and Albert Museum I walked into the John Madejski garden expecting to see the towering chair arch by Wallpaper magazine. From a distance I thought I’d got what I was looking for, but atlas it turned out to be a toddler under the arch, and perspective playing tricks.

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After taking a hiatus for ten years, illustrious illustrator Miles. D came down to the
Working Title office, kicked back and whipped out these little gems.

If like me you have found yourself visiting 100% on the last day of design week or have scheduled an hour to trawl the contents of Earls Court two, then there are three things that you must see before you leave- all doable in ten minutes.

10 Minutes
If you haven’t already seen… from UCA the home made rotational moulding machine, a reaction to the way in which materials and processes are taught by two recent graduates, Andrew Duffy and Craig Tyler. Powered by a power drill, it’s a nod to the Heath Robinson types amongst us. Already exhibited earlier this year at new designers they are ‘on tour’ shortly exhibiting in both Birmingham and Newcastle. Watch this space…

7 Minutes
Give new materials a squeeze and Chris Lefteri’s 100% Materials stand. My favourites are #1123, #1002, #92. 150 new materials on show without the hard sell.

5 Minutes
On the way out pop into ‘Ten’, a group of 10 designers who annually exhibit at 100%. This year they tackle the ‘sustainability issue’, using digital processes to re invent used materials. The results are eclectic but considerate. Not a whiff of shabby chic!

…Home time.

Text: Laura Hasting

Truman Brewery, brick lane: it has become a very sellable brand, having been tweeted the shit out of by Rachel Isherwood, tagged all over the place. Tent has always been a nice little package, promising a variety of stuff for all to see, but to me it has never really gelled, seeming somewhat disparate.

Here is my selection of stuff from Tent.
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Image By David Wilson

As part of their curation of 100% Design this year, Jamie from Jam asked a bunch of his friends if they could contribute in some way. Amongst those asked was cycling obsessive Richard from SUSD who put two and two together: 100% Design is in the “Brompton” area, and there exists a famous foldable bike of the same name. And that is how the “Brompton Bicycle Tour” was born.

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Over sixties are emerging as the latest market for the Super Soaker; (the large water pistol with pump action). The squirting action is fast becoming a household item amongst senior citizens as the method of choice for moving on neighbourhood cats from flower beds and seagulls perched on rooftops. The Super Soaker turns out to be an effective alternative for watering a variety of pot plants. “It was Hettie from across the road who one got first” explained Edna Whittle, 79 from Brighton, who went on joke; “Well I was never allowed one as girl…”

Text: Lorna Robertson
Image: Catriona Robertson

Hot off the press, last minute inspiration from Olivia Lee.

“The V&A Symposium left a deep impression in my mind with regards to this whole sustainability issue. I actually wanted to do a written piece but I couldn’t put the time together and the illustrations articulate some of my thoughts/observations in a faster and more light-hearted way.”

By: Oliva Lee

The Royal College of Art are KithKin’s neighbours in Designers Block, with their exhibition “Disruptive Thinking”. Working with professionals in other non design fields, the work is well informed, endlessly interesting, presenting fantastical possibilities of everyday experience.

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The design and manufacturing company “Inflate” create inflatable pop up structures, used for a wide range of events in the shape of portable offices, bars and night clubs. Their individual inflatable changing room in army camouflage can be seen at the stand at the entrance of 100% design. Here you can see how it all works, by making your own inflatable key ring. At the stand Mahani Baharum and Gaia Fachini are encouraging people to dig into their pockets and then trap the miscellaneous contents in between two pieces of translucent PVC and which can then be inflated.

Ben Hugh’s “Claystation” workshop is back again, this year inviting you to design your own chair and win the opportunity to have it made into a full size version. Designers, students, children and families are making their way over, given an A3 paper template of a mini “Onepiece Chair” and invited to decorate it however they choose and then fold their design into the chair . Over then week the stand has built up a colourful array of mini “Onepiece Chairs”, alongside the full sized version. Paper for the project has been supplied by Whitelines.