Samuel Ross and Victoria Broackes in conversation with Charlene Prempeh

For this year's London Design Biennale, artistic director Samuel Ross proposed the theme Surface Reflections, which delves into how both personal histories and experiences inform who we are and what we create. In this conversation, he unravels the contemporary experiences of modernity that shape his multidisciplinary work, as well as his perception of design more broadly, while Biennale director Victoria Broackes explains how these ideas underpin the ideas of the national pavilions exhibiting across the exhibition. The talk will be chaired by Biennale jury member Charlene Prempeh, a journalist and founder of creative studio and art consultancy A Vibe Called Tech

Location: The Great Hall, King's College, London

This edition of the Global Design Forum is supported by our Digital Media Partner, STIR.

Should you have any access requirements, please contact us at rsvp@globaldesignforum.com to accommodate your visit.

This talk is talking place at part of the Global Design Forum at London Design Biennale. View the whole programme here.

SPEAKERS:

Samuel Ross is a British artist and designer and artistic director of the 2025 London Design Biennale. He has won three British fashion awards, two GQ awards and The Serpentine Hublot design prize. His practice spans from intimate solo exhibitions with White Cube and Friedman Benda, to innovative wearable objects engineered with LVMH group, Nike group and Apple group. Ross founded A-COLD-WALL*, SR_A SR_A and The Black British Artist Grants Programme

Victoria Broackes has been Director of London Design Biennale since January 2020. Previously at the V&A, she was Senior Curator in Theatre & Performance and Head of the London Design Festival at the V&A. At the V&A she curated major exhibitions fusing culture and music including Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains (2017), You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels, 1966-70 (2016) and David Bowie is.

Charlene Prempeh (chair) is the founder of A Vibe Called Tech, a Black-owned creative agency, which has worked with brands including Gucci, Stine Goya, Faber, Frieze and institutions like Whitechapel Gallery, White Cube, RA and V&A East to deliver ambitious creative output that nourishes communities. She is also columnist and contributing editor for Financial Times HTSI, writing about design, travel, and culture.