(UK) – [d]arc awards to go ahead as planned with [d]arc night taking place on 3rd December.

Diversified Communications UK has confirmed that this year’s London Design Fair, and therefore [d]arc room, due to take place at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch on 17-20 September, has been postponed until 2021.  

The decision is a result of the widespread disruption caused by the Coronavirus epidemic.  Nearly 70% of the event’s exhibitors are based abroad and most have, understandably, requested to cancel their participation for 2020. 

David Maguire, group event director at Diversified Communications UK, said: “Like all businesses, we’ve been closely following the rapidly changing developments during these unprecedented and difficult times, and we have been in close contact with our exhibitors and partners to make sure we make the right decision.  

“We appreciate the hugely important role London Design Fair plays as part of the London Design Festival and its mission to promote London as one of the leading design capitals of the world.  However, these are unprecedented times.  We know how affected many of our exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and partners are by the epidemic, and our thoughts are with them, their staff and families.  But the design community is strong and resilient, and we look forward to coming back better than ever in 2021, and to continuing to play a leading role promoting great design.”

Paul James, Managing Director of [d]arc media, organiser of [d]arc room, commented: “Obviously, we’re very disappointed that the event had to be canceled but, given the current climate due to Covid-19, we think it’s the right call and I commend Diversified Communications for making this decision so early to give clarity for exhibitors and visitors.

“We will, however, be going full speed ahead with the [d]arc awards as this is an online platform for entering and voting culminating in [d]arc night, the awards party, on 3rd December in London. I think we could all do with a big industry party by then and, if it needs to be delayed a while if circumstances don’t change by December, this is something we can easily do.”

New show dates will be announced on the London Design Fair website (www.londondesignfair.co.uk) and the [d]arc room website (www.darcroom.com) soon.