Hasta La Ideas

The Summer Olympics aren’t the only reason to visit London this month: The Barbican is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of James Bond with Designing 007, “a unique exhibition showcasing the inside story of the design and style of the world’s most influential and iconic movie brand.”

In collaboration with EON Productions and with unprecedented access to their archives, Designing 007 will be a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history.

It will explore the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.

Highlights include gadgets and weapons made for Bond and his notorious adversaries by special effects experts John Stears and Chris Corbould, along with artwork for sets and storyboards by production designers Sir Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Syd Cain, and costume designs by Bumble Dawson, Donfeld, Julie Harris, Lindy Hemming, Ronald Patterson, Emma Porteous, and Jany Temime.

Those of us who can’t make it across the pond might have to settle for this tantalizing promo video:

But wait, there’s more: only half the exhibition is dedicated to design; the other half will focus on fashion, from Savile Row to saving the world:

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