Designed in Hackney Day – 1 August

The Olympic Torch was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. Photograph: Dezeen

Designed in Hackney Day on 1 August is a one-off event celebrating the high calibre of designers living and /or working in the borough. It will take place in Hackney House, a 1,000-square metre pop-up space in Shoreditch.

The day is organised by the directors of the world-famous architecture and design blog Dezeen, working with Hackney Council and curator Beatrice Galilee.

The project began as an online documentation of Hackney designs on the Dezeen website that proved popular with readers and designers.

When the Council started work on the Hackney House they asked Dezeen to curate a Designed in Hackney exhibition, which is currently on display in the entrance, before commissioning them to arrange a day dedicated to Hackney design.

Marcus Fairs, co-director of Dezeen, said: “We’ve been looking for a way to celebrate the incredible architecture and design scene in Hackney and, with the world’s media descending on the area for the Olympics, we thought this was a good opportunity to make a big statement.

“Beatrice Galilee is a young Hackney curator who’s making waves on the architecture and design scene so it seemed obvious to get her on board.”

Fairs says Hackney retains a lot of the small, craft and engineering-based industry that designers need to collaborate with in order to get their products made, explaining that it is much harder to find this type of industry in more gentrified parts.

He feels that Hackney is not yet synonymous with creative excellence in the eyes of the international media, “or indeed even in the eyes of the local media.” This is one of the reasons he agreed to help organise a showcase of local talent.

Exhibitors will include lighting designer Paul Cocksedge, digital studios Troika and Jason Bruges, shoe designer Tracey Neuls, furniture designer Martino Gamper, and architect David Adjaye.

Evening entertainment includes music from the band Clock Opera, and a DJ set by Dalston Superstore.

For more go to Designed in Hackney.