London Design Biennale has returned to Somerset House in 2025 for its 5th edition. The three-week exhibition features curated installations accompanied by a programme of events, thought-leadership talks, performances and workshops, all showcasing world-leading design, innovation, creativity and research by exhibitors from across the globe. 

The Biennale features 35 pavilions created as a response to this year’s theme, ‘Surface Reflections’ which was set by Artistic Director Dr Samuel Ross MBE. The 2025 Biennale explores the dynamic interplay between internal experience and external influence, inviting designers and audiences alike to consider what lies beneath the surface of the objects, systems, and spaces that shape our lives.

Pentagram’s Domenic Lippa is the Biennale’s longstanding creative director, and led the team who designed the 2025 identity, including posters, signage, printed and online elements.

“Searching for a design solution can sometimes take interesting and unexpected turns,” Domenic explains. “The challenge with creating an identity for the London Design Biennale remains constant in that on the one hand we want to support the theme presented (in this case ‘Surface Reflections’) but also represent the different exhibitors’ ideas themselves. 

We landed on a graphic rather than a pictorial solution to enable the idea to work for pavilions as well as the home of the spectacular Somerset House. The colourful graphic mark has a uniquely 2D and 3D expression depending on its use. It’s one which we believe is both celebratory and engaging for the audience and participants alike.”

All images courtesy of London Design Biennale