Dezeen Magazine

"The floating illuminated telephone number had no explanation" - Paul Cocksedge

In the last movie about our Seven Designers for Seven Dials installations, designer Paul Cocksedge demonstrates how calling a neon phone number suspended in the air generates a guaranteed smile.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

"What I'm inviting Londoners to do is to phone [the number] and as soon as it rings it begins to flash and you are in direct contact with the piece," says Cocksedge.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

While the installation was in place during last year's London Design Festival, anyone could dial the number and the voice of actress Joanna Lumley would answer, inviting the caller to text "smile" to the five digit number that appeared from the original.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

She explained that texting gives one pound to children's charity Barnardo's. The donation triggers a neon smile that fills the street.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

Dezeen commissioned seven young designers to create seven installations to hang above the streets of Covent Garden during last year's London Design Festival, and Cocksedge's installation was located on Mercer Street.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

This is the final movie in our series about Seven Designers for Seven Dials in which each designers describes their installation - see them all here.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

Photography is by Mark Cocksedge.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

The music featured in the movie is a song called Blue Sapphire by Remote Scenes. You can listen to the full track on Dezeen Music Project.

Paul Cocksedge at Seven Designers for Seven Dials

See all our stories about Paul Cocksedge »
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See all our coverage of London Design Festival 2012 »