Last night, London’s design world descended on the Barbican for the opening of Ron Arad‘s new exhibition, Restless. I joined hundreds of Ã¼ber-cool design types for a look around the London-based designer’s work.

If you thought a chair was just a chair, think again. Arad’s chairs come in all shapes and sizes, from a giant thumb print to a reclaimed car seat.

There’s also a large round bookcase rolling up and down on rails (complete with books), and a beautiful crystal chandelier that displays messages sent from mobile phones. (Apparently it’s the only chandelier with its own phone number.)

The exhibition brings together more than 120 items designed by Arad over the past 30 years.

On the upper floor, key pieces like Rover Chair, 1981, which helped launch Arad’s career, are displayed next to giant LED screens with dramatic effect.

On the lower floor, the show gets interactive, and you can play on Arad’s designer ping pong tables, and try out some of his chairs.

Arad’s work is both stylish and fun, and I’d definitely recommend a visit to the Barbican show. One thing’s for sure – you’ll never look at chairs in the same way again!

Ron Arad: Restless is at the Barbican Art Gallery until 16 May

Excitement is bubbling at VL towers over the fact that East Festival is just three weeks away. And it’s not just us, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson is looking forward to it too:

“I’m delighted to see the return of the East Festival. This year promises to be a real box of delights with a range of world class artists, exciting performances and activities that range from building your own home to bicycle polo in a festival that showcases East London’s brightly burning creative spirit.”

This year’s East has four major themes: Architecture, Minimalism, Travel and Asian Subcontinent. Highlights of East 2010 include:

• More than 100 specially curated artist-led events
• Cycle East‘s free music – by bike – including Soweto Kinch and Sweet Billy Pilgrim
• East London’s very own Commonwealth Games
• St Ethelburga’s Delhi Dharbar: a programme of events exploring Delhi’s religious diversity through music, stories, architecture and food
• Moonfleece: Philip Ridley’s new play, set in an East London tower block
• Ron Arad: As part of the Barbican’s Ron Arad season, a series of specially created events around the East Festival
• Céleste Boursier-Mougenot: Installation by French artist in the Curve gallery at the Barbican takes the form of a walk-through aviary inhabited by 40 zebra finches

Go to www.findeast.co.uk for the full East festival programme.