LONDON, ENGLAND.- Established in 2002 to celebrate and promote London as the creative capital of the world, The London Design Festival has rapidly grown to become one of the key constituents of the UK’s burgeoning festival season, along with London Fashion Week, Frieze and the London Film Festival.

Since Newsweek declared London to be the coolest capital city on the planet in 1996, London has proved and exceeded its ‘Cool Britannia’ credentials. In February 2006 London was measured as the world’s favourite brand city, according to the latest Anholt-GMI City Brands Index Survey. Its creative industries are the envy of the world and its award winning designers and architects are in more demand than ever. As London becomes more accessible through the Eurostar terminal and Heathrow’s Terminal 5, and we look towards the Olympics and other destination events, London’s position as the world’s most creative city looks secure.

The London Design Festival provides a benchmark for this creativity, with a varied series of design-led activities around the capital. In line with its elevated profile and the growing relevance of its initiatives, the London Design Festival has seen visitor numbers increase from 100,000 in 2003 to more than 475,000 in 2005. Speaking at the opening of last years Festival, The Rt. Hon Gordon Brown MP observed that the festival “…has built up a world-wide reputation for its events, its vision, for cradling the British genius”, and that “…it is a symbol of the message that I believe the London Design Festival is sending around the world – in the new economy success does not happen by accident, it happens by design”.

In 2006, the London Design Festival will build on its growing reputation with a range of activities that place design and creativity at the top of the UK’s agenda. More partners than ever before will host events, collaborations with key London partners will be even stronger and - in a drive for absolute accessibility - particular focus will be given to retail partners. Other activities will include lecture programmes, educational initiatives, published research, exhibitions, screenings and awards.

One of the London Design Festival’s core objectives is to create links between the general public, established industry and emerging talent; thus putting design at the centre of our commercial landscape, our cultural consciousness and our capital city. Working with design partners, the London Design Festival promises to take that even further in 2006 with a series of activities that bring design into London’s heart, creating dialogue and excitement about the role of design in our society and our lives.