Welcome to the high street that's been turned into an advent calendar

The project, funded by the Outer London Fun Project with Brent council and The Architecture Foundation, in collaboration with Meanwhile Space and Blue Consulting, will see a flock of world-class designers transforming Willesden High Road and some of Walm Lane into a giant, urban advent calendar. Day by day from today until Christmas Day, 25 local shops and businesses will play host to the creations of wildly inventive design teams who will make each storefront into a life-sized advent window surprise.

The local shops participating in the project include the jewellers, barbers, a kebab shop, a pound shop, Caribbean snack supplies, a gift shop and the local hair stylist.

When the project was first dreamed up a month ago, submissions to contribute designs flooded in from all over the world, and the chosen design teams include architects, film set designers, product designers, fashion designers, cabinet makers, art directors, graphic designers and even a film-maker.

Many of the designers, such as Merel Karhof, Thorunn Arnadottir and Marcus Kayser, were raised in other countries but trained and base their practice here, because London is now the undisputed centre of the international design industry. A smaller number of the teams involved, such as Paper Collective, are based in Willesden itself.

"As a charity we're always keen on how the environment can be improved to help social engagement," says Sarah Ichioka, director of the Architecture Foundation, who came up with the idea for the project. "Advent calendars are all about unveiling and surprises. We really want to generate daily footfall and interest in the area by welcoming people to something exciting and festive."

The first Window on Willesden will be created by Kieren Jones, a designer, maker, researcher and self-styled professional amateur.

"The pilot 'Window' is a vacant juice bar. It will be the project HQ," says Jones. "You can call in, learn about the project, pick up the map and then take the trail to see the windows down the High Road. I'm doing a Las Vegas-style lighting display."

Monumental and fun, his window lights will illuminate passengers sitting waiting at the bus stop outside.

Next will come playwright Caroline Collinge and architect Edmond Salter, with their Cabinet of Curiosities, whose artworks will transform the window of the local charity shop on Walm Lane (leading into Willesden Green) tomorrow.

On Saturday comes Metropolitan Workshop in the Food for Thought café on Willesden High Road - and so it goes, from one festive day to the next.

The team will post pictures of the installations, by their official photographer Mike Massaro, on the website at willesdenwindows.com and there will be a focus weekend of special events on December 17 and 18, with designers taking hands-on craft workshops, local historical tours, and last, but by no means least, mince pies and mulled wine.