Blog 7
Day 1: London Begins - Brands, Neighbourhoods, and First Impressions
We started our Contemporary Design Culture trip with a visit to the Museum of Brands. This was the perfect way to dive into design thinking. After meeting up at King's Cross and dropping our bags at the Generator Hostel, we headed to Notting Hill - one of London’s most iconic and colourful neighbourhoods.
The Museum of Brands was like stepping through a time machine. Shelves packed with vintage packaging, advertising, and everyday products showed how design, culture, and technology evolve together. It wasn’t just nostalgia - it was a crash course in why things look the way they do today. I found myself snapping photos of typefaces, colour palettes, and packaging materials for Task 1: Forecasting, Trends & Fashion.
Afterwards, wandering down Portobello Road was like being in a real-life Pinterest board. Antique shops, secondhand bookshops, street art, and vintage stalls - all layered with history and personality. It was the perfect contrast to the branded museum space we had just visited. That tension between curated history and living design trends made me realise how deeply the past influences what we find stylish today.
Day 2: From the Past to the Future at the V&A and Design Museum
Today was a full-on deep dive into the evolution of design. We started at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a classic London institution that always delivers. We focused on three key areas: Design 1900- Now, Furniture, and Architecture. I was blown away by how even the smallest design choices (like a chair leg or door handle) reflected the values and materials of their time.
It was fascinating for Task 2: Design Through Time, especially seeing how function, culture, and aesthetics influence each other. I spent ages sketching out a few mid-century furniture pieces that looked like they could still fit into a trendy co-working space today.
Next stop: the Design Museum. Their Designer, Maker, User exhibition was one of the most interactive I’ve ever seen. It explored everyday objects through the lens of those who design them, make them, and use them. There was a beautiful balance between innovation and storytelling, showing that design is never neutral - it always serves someone.
Walking between museums through Kensington, I felt like we were moving through time. We went from Victorian grandeur to modernist clarity, all in one afternoon.
Day 3: Textures, Skylines, and New Perspectives
Our third day started at the Material Lab in Mayfair - a tactile paradise. Imagine walls lined with tiles, samples, surfaces, and future materials that felt like they belonged in another dimension. This visit was focused on trend forecasting, and it delivered. I collected textures, patterns, and material samples through photos for Task 3: Micro & Macro Details.
Afterwards, we explored Oxford Street, which is a trend lab in itself. From Selfridges to Nike and even minimalist design shops like Fritz Hansen, every window display felt like a mini-exhibition of what’s next in consumer culture.
Then came a totally different kind of design exploration: The City of London Walking Tour. Led by local guides, we explored the layers of history and architecture that shape the city, from medieval alleys to sleek skyscrapers. It was the perfect reminder that macro design isn't just about objects - it's about spaces and systems too.
We ended our day at the Sky Garden. Standing above the city, watching the sunset, I felt a wave of perspective about cities, about design, and about how much we miss when we don’t stop to look up.
