London Design Biennale 2025: ‘Surface Reflections’ reimagines the role of design at Somerset House

The London Design Biennale 2025 has officially opened its doors at Somerset House, marking the highly anticipated fifth edition of the London Design Biennale. Running from June 5th to June 29th, 2025, this year’s programme unfolds under the curatorial direction of Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, whose boundary-pushing approach reframes design as both a mirror and a catalyst for change. Known for his work with A-COLD-WALL* and SR_A SR_A, Samuel Ross brings a deeply reflective tone to the biennale, inviting audiences to explore the evolving nature of identity, environment, and memory.

Under the unifying theme of Surface Reflections, the London Design Biennale 2025 brings together over 30 international pavilions in a multidisciplinary showcase that includes installations, performances, workshops, and talks. More than ever, the Biennale asserts itself as a global platform where design becomes dialogue—personal, political, and poetic. For Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, design is inseparable from the cultural and emotional landscapes we inhabit. “Design is a contemplation of the times we’re in,” he states, positioning the London Design Biennale 2025 as a space for critical engagement.

This year, the pavilions lean into conceptual intimacy. Rather than grand spectacle, many participants have opted for thought-provoking restraint—responding to the urgent global issues of overproduction, extraction, and displacement. Chile tackles the ecological fallout of mining, while Oman fuses ceramic heritage with digital aesthetics to examine preservation in the data age. These themes echo the broader ethos of Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, who has consistently championed narratives that blend technology, tradition, and human experience.

The London Design Biennale 2025 also features standout contributions from Nigeria, Northumbria University, and UCL. Nigeria’s pavilion draws from Lejja’s ironworking history through a responsive digital installation, while Northumbria and UCL present sustainable architecture innovations—from mycelium-based structures to bacteria-grown cement. These explorations exemplify how the London Design Biennale champions design not as decoration, but as a form of inquiry and possibility.

Award highlights from the London Design Biennale 2025 include Poland’s pavilion, which received the ‘Theme’ Medal for its haunting meditation on social inequality and the act of waiting. Oman was awarded the ‘Design’ Medal, and the bio-integrative work Living Assembly: Building with Biology received a Special Mention for pushing the boundaries between craft and science.

Though this edition of the London Design Biennale forgoes a central courtyard installation, it more than compensates with curatorial depth and conceptual clarity. Guided by the vision of Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, the London Design Biennale 2025 proves that design is not only a language of form but a global force for reflection, adaptation, and change.

In our interview, Dr. Samuel Ross MBE shares his personal insights on the poetry of materials and the role of design in navigating the complexities of urban life and digital identity. Don’t miss the full conversation—essential reading for anyone interested in the future of design.