Renzo Piano's Shard and Jacqueline Durran's Anna Karenina Costumes Compete for the Prestigious Design of the Year Award

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 18, 2013 (Press-News.org) Having won the Design of the Year award in 2012 for the London 2012 Olympic Torch, it's time for Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby to hand the title over to another deserving designer. Spread across seven categories - Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Product and Transport - the awards are regarded as 'the Oscars of the design world' and showcase some of the most innovative and creative works from London and around the world.

The Designs of the Year 2013 exhibition opens to the public on 20th March 2013 at London's Design Museum and the category winners and overall winner, decided by a jury, will be announced on 17th April. For visitors travelling outside of London, a wide range of cheap hotels in London suitable for all budgets are available for booking through LondonTown.com.

One of the frontrunners in the Architecture category, and a main contender for the overall winner, is Western Europe's tallest building, the Shard. Designed by Renzo Piano, this magnificent skyscraper is visible wherever you are in London and has made a striking addition to the city's skyline. Unveiled in 2012 with a laser show, the 'vertical city' has since opened its viewing platform to the public and is still yet to open its 5-star Shangri-La Hotel. A further notable contender in the architecture category is A Room For London, a boat shaped structure designed by David Kohn Architects in collaboration with artist Fiona Banner. Sitting atop the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, this one-bedroom structure has extended its opening throughout 2013 due to its immense popularity. Open to the public for one-night stays, it also welcomes an impressive programme of writing, performance and music for ten days a month.

The Fashion category sees Oscar-nominated Jacqueline Durran shortlisted for an award for her costume designs in Joe Wright's screenplay adaptation of Anna Karenina. The costumes include gowns, military garments and accessories worn by Keira Knightley and Jude Law and are currently on display in the Long Gallery of Ham House, where some scenes of the film were shot.

The Rain Room at the Barbican's Art Gallery has been shortlisted under the Digital category. Designed by rAndom International, this immersive installation brought perpetual rainfall into the gallery and received overwhelming popularity - people were queuing for up to eight hours and the gallery extended its opening until 1am. While last year's Bauhaus: Art as Life exhibition, also held at the Barbican Art Gallery, features in the Graphics category.

All these shortlisted London works, and all the others from around the world, can be viewed at London's Design Museum until 7th July 2013.

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