I’ve followed Es Devlin’s work for some time. Her designs for theatre, opera, huge pop concerts, installations and public art are always eye-catching, imaginative and thought-provoking. She may be best known to many as the designer of the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

The exhibition starts off in a space which is a reproduction of Es Devlin’s south London studio space. It’s fascinating to see all the books, drawings, objects and bits and pieces which both inspire and take ideas to the next stage. Then, after hearing Es telling us a little of her early life and family, the wall of the studio magically opens and visitors are invited to come into the exhibition space to view the thousands of papers and plans which were kept in her archive and tell the story of the projects she has worked on.

It’s very difficult to convey, in a blog such as this without film, the extent and depth of all the ideas and items on show. What’s fascinating in a 45 minute film of Es talking about the projects she’s worked on while handing the initial drawings and musing on the challenges and pleasures of each one. Everything, she says, starts with pencil and paper and this is the way she develops her ideas. Then, her talented team of specialists take the ideas and play around with them suggesting different materials, scales and uses.

I loved the boxes of theatre sets. A recurring theme for Es is use of the revolving cube and circles. These seem to be universal shapes which she is drawn to. I would imagine that theatre producers both love and are challenged by her ideas. So often they involve complex engineering, revolves, clever lighting and illusions.

In a second space we are treated to a new installation entitled An Infinite Library, a kinetic sculpture featuring over 2,000 books that have informed Devlin’s worldview. The triangle of books revolves over a mirrored floor, visually doubling its size. Viewers can walk around this huge piece and are invited to view books open on low plinths and read passages which have been especially meaningful to Es Devlin.

The show is spectacular and it’s on at the Design Museum until 4th April 2027.