Fast becoming the focal point of the annual London Design Festival, designjunction 2013 starts today. Here's an overview of what to expect.

What’s on at London’s leading design destination?

More than 100 global brands, 30 design-led pop-up stores, 100’s of product launches, live factory demonstrations, seminars, screenings, premium eateries, installations and more return to the industrial 1960’s Sorting Office. Top international brands including &tradition, Modus, Made in Ratio, Carl Hansen, Moroso, Zanotta, Bolon, Assembly Room, String, Mitab, Bla Station and Another Country take centre stage at London’s leading design destination.

Introducing lightjunction supported by Megaman

This year, sees the launch of lightjunction, London’s first trade show dedicated to high-end decorative lighting.

Staged in partnership with experts Cameron Peters Fine Lighting, lightjunction brings together a curated selection of global lighting brands including Woka, LZF, Vibia, Artemide, Orsjo, Innermost, Sharon Marston, Northern Lighting, Vitamin among others.

Live Factory Demonstrations

The Flash Factories return, bringing a diverse selection of industrial processes to life with live demonstrations each day. This year Blueprint magazine, Additive Earth Systems and the Bartlett School of Architecture have collaborated to launch a competition using 3D printing technology. The best entries will be on show. There will be live 3D printing running throughout the event and a showcase of on-going experiments into large scale 3D printing for its potential application in architecture.

Brooks Saddles, Britain’s oldest saddle makers, will demonstrate the process of making beautifully handcrafted leather saddles alongside the world’s first full scale, portable CNC router system. Grow CNC, can be easily assembled on site, ready to cut in 3 minutes, and packed back away into its flight case for easy transport and storage

Pop-up shops

designjunction’s ground floor is a retail emporium with more than 30 carefully selected stores selling furniture, prints, ceramics, glassware, books, watches and accessories. Retailers include Cherchbi, Theo, Clippings.com, Dezeen Watch Store, Dyke & Dean, Melin Tregwnt, Monotype, Native Union, and Outline Editions. Fans of 20th Century collectibles will be able to purchase originals from Midcentury Modern show, also taking up residency.

Challenging debates – sponsored by Phaidon Atlas

Live debates and panel discussions are happening throughout the day in a new seminar theatre designed by architecture duo VW+BS. The sessions will take a closer look at the relationship between design and architecture. All talks are free to attend and can be seen at thedesignjunction.co.uk/programme.

IndesignLive will be bringing you a round up direct from our London correspondent Ola Bednarczuk, next week.

Design Junction 2013

thedesignjunction.co.uk