What's on
From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
Material Matters 2024 welcomes 50 world-leading brands, designers, manufacturers and organisations to Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, to celebrate materials and their ability to shape society.
We spoke to a selection of makers and designers from this exciting line up to find out what's in store this London Design Festival!
SURU is a furniture and lighting brand from Barcelona, founded by product designer and engineer Àlex Jiménez, that combines strict circular economy criteria and the best product design. Find out more about SURU's first launch in the UK:
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your brand, and what inspires you
"I am a product designer and engineer with many years of experience in designing and developing products with a strong focus on sustainability, across a wide range of sectors. I’m passionate about promoting design and the circular economy, and I work with educational institutions, companies, and public administration to train diverse profiles in these areas.
SURU was born from identifying a niche in the furniture and lighting sector for well-designed products where sustainability is the core principle, achieved through ambitious solutions that enhance product circularity.
I'm inspired by people and organizations that strive to make meaningful and fair improvements in any field."
What are you exhibiting at Material Matters this year, and what inspired this?
"We are introducing SURU to the UK market for the first time, showcasing a selection of products that we initially launched with, along with a couple of new items presented exclusively. These products combine innovative materials and solutions with a strong foundation in craftsmanship and local production."
Why did you choose these products/installations to be exhibited at Material Matters?
"As this is our debut in the UK, we wanted to present a broad range of solutions, showcasing the variety of products we offer to architects and interior designers to help them know our brand. We’ve brought a sample that includes upholstered furniture, seating, and lighting solutions, all designed with strict circularity criteria."
What interested you in a career in design, and what do you enjoy the most about your work?
"I’ve always been fascinated by design for its ability to connect. Few professions can link such diverse suppliers, from various backgrounds and sizes, with users, companies, and the variety of experts involved in product development. It’s incredibly enriching to build a proposal from the work and insights of such a varied group, and SURU is a perfect example of that."
What excites you about showcasing your work in Material Matters?
"We’re very excited to see how the audience at the exhibition responds to our products. The UK is a highly sophisticated market for interior design solutions, and we’re eager to share our work with the visitors of Material Matters. We’re also looking forward to seeing and learning from what other exhibitors are showcasing—we’re sure there’s much to learn from their insights."
This will be the first launch of your products in the UK. What made you pick Material Matters for this launch?
"Last year, we attended as visitors and presented briefly one of our projects at Isola’s space. We were impressed by Material Matters’ approach, particularly their strong focus on circularity, with a curation that takes this issue seriously. SURU felt like a perfect fit, so we decided to participate when we received the invitation."
Can you tell us a bit more about how SURU embodies Barcelona's spirit of innovation and creativity?
"Barcelona is a city of contrasts—extremely modern and attentive to global trends, with a deep interest in design, creativity and architecture, while simultaneously preserving Mediterranean traditions and lifestyle. The city and its metropolitan area are full of diverse suppliers, craftsmen, workshops and industries, which greatly influence SURU. Nearly 100% of our suppliers are within a 30km radius of us, something that not many brands can claim. We’re excited to show you our work!"
Thank you SURU for being a brilliant Maker Spotlight!
We've got an exciting line-up of activity for London Design Festival at Oxo Tower Wharf, including the innovative, cutting-edge design fair Material Matters. Explore our full programme of events here: