Over 150 exhibitors will showcase everything from exquisite handcrafted surfaces to the latest technological advances in architectural lighting. 

Returning names such as Innerspace Cheshire, Pixalux and Blueprint Ceramics will feature alongside first-time exhibitors such as Reed Harris, producers of decorative tiles, wallpapers and paint, and the internationally recognised leather specialists, Wildman & Bugby.

Surface Design Show 2019 also features some 40 talks from over 50 industry professionals, all designed to engage and inspire.

The Opening Night Debate returns from 6.30pm on the first day of the Show, Tuesday 5th February. Organised in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and New London Architecture (NLA) it will discuss whether factory-made housing can provide Londoners with better places to live. 

The panel will be chaired by Peter Murray of NLA, with Ben Derbyshire of HTA Design and RIBA President, Carl Vann of Pollard Thomas Edwards and Hazel Rounding of ShedKM.

The ever-popular PechaKucha Evening will also return for 2019, hosted by Chris Dyson of Chris Dyson Architects on 6th February from 6.30pm. Speakers will include Nigel Ostime of Hawkins Brown; Soraya Khan of Theis and Khan Architects; Alex Scott-Whitby of ScottWhitbyStudio; Stuart Piercy of Piercy and Co; Simon Fraser of Hopkins Architects; Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects; Lucia Berasaluce of Haptic Architects and Ben Cousins of Cousins & Cousins Architects. 

Presenters will discuss ‘Identities and Boundaries: site specific responses to modern architecture’ in an exciting and inspiring format using 20 images, each discussed for 20 seconds. 

The Main Stage will also host talks including: ‘The office of the future: virtual or virtuous?’ Studio Tilt's Oliver Marlow meets architectural correspondent Veronica Simpson to discuss how the configurations of interiors can assist a more fluid, more creative and more effective way of operating; ‘Four key colour stories for Spring Summer 2010, Idyll, Kinship, Mask and Parade’ taken by Hannah Malein of Colour Hive; and ‘Designing for an aging population’ by speaker Gilly Craft, President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).

Surface Spotlight Live, curated in collaboration by trend expert Sally Angharad and colour forecasters Colour Hive will also make a comeback. A series of thought-provoking and innovative products will be showcased, all of which go beyond aesthetics to promote meaningful experiences, with highlights for the workplace and public realm.

Speaking before the show opens, trend forecaster and curator of the Show’s Surface Spotlight Live feature, Sally Angharad enthuses: “There are a number of distinct trends coming out of Surface DesignShow that visitors will pick up. Once again the Show will set the scene for the next year in terms of design ideas.”

The Surface Design Awards have been running since 2013, and are recognised as one of the most respected events in the design calendar. The awards distinguish the best and most interesting exterior and interior surfaces for different sectors of design, including commercial, housing, light and surface, public building, retail, sustainable, and temporary structures.

The 2019 awards received entries from Europe, the USA, Australia, China, Korea and India.The shortlist consists of an impressive 43 projects across seven categories, including Blitz Club by Studio Knack and Simon Vorhammer; Morpheus Hotel by Zaha Hadid Architects; and Brunch With by MM Consulate. 

The Awards Presentation will take place on the morning of Thursday 7th February, at Surface Design Show. Tickets to the Presentation are available via the Surface Design Show website.

The 2019 judging panel was co-chaired by Christophe Egret, Founding Partner at Studio Egret West, and Paul Priestman, Chairman at PriestmanGoode. The full panel comprised Cany Ash, Partner at Ash Sakula Architects; James Soane, Director at Project Orange architecture & interior design; Jeremy Offer, Chief Creative Officer at future-focused vehicle designers Arrival; Katie Greenyer, Creative Talent & Network Director at Pentland Group; Paul Edwards, Head of Creative Design at Airbus and Roz Barr, Director of Roz Barr Architects. 

Registration for Surface Design Show is now open.