This month the industry is a hive of activity, busy and buzzing in anticipation of September’s design season. Jimmy MacDonald, Tent London’s Show Director and owner, recently told me, “People are dying to meet offline!” It seems that in a society driven by technology, where networking, business growth and product specification is available online at the simple touch of a button, trade shows are more important than ever because they provide that natural human element that virtual business lacks.

Deborah Spencer, designjunction’s Show Director, sums up the importance for non-digital communication perfectly: “The internet is an important tool for product specification, however, it hasn’t negated the need to meet people face to face. Exhibitions still provide an important platform to meet directly with the target market. Visitors to a show are already in the right frame of mind to do business.”

In the run up to the design scene’s busiest month, we start our series of event previews by taking a closer look at designjunction and Tent and Super Brands London. This issue includes exclusive interviews with both events’ Show Directors who identify key exhibitors to look out for as well as exciting additions to London Design Festival 2014’s diary.

Elsewhere in this issue, Inex pays special attention to kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms with a dedicated focus. Highlights include Jacqui Hoctor, New Product Development Manager at kitchen specialist Best, discussing how statement hoods are becoming focal artistic pieces that combine both form and function on page 36, whilst on page 42 Martin Mongan, Managing Director at bathroom expert Hansgrohe, explains how to achieve the perfect bathroom balance between practical space and sublime sanctuary.