What’s going on at CDW 2024

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) returns to London from 21 – 23 May 2024, standing as one of the leading international design festivals, FREE to all visitors (register now).

This year’s edition boasts the most extensive programme to date, featuring a greater number of exhibition venues, brands, showrooms and installations than ever before.

This expansion firmly establishes the festival as the go-to destination for specification within the architecture and design community.

Amidst a rich tapestry of new launches, presentations and events, here’s a round-up of the top things to see and do at the May event; from innovative farming by-product designs and the renaissance of natural stone and wood to AI-crafted cocktails and industry discussions on neurodiversity.

 

New Collections

 

Fritz Hansen will reveal its new collection at its Cowcross Street showroom in a special feature titled ‘Inviting Workspaces’.

Curated to explore both commercial and residential working environments, the exhibit will display furniture and accessories from designers including Jaime Hayon and Jørn Utzon.

 

At its Great Sutton Street showroom, Domus (shown above) will present a colourful exhibit of tile designs created by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby to celebrate their 10-year collaboration with its brand partner Mutina.

The installation will also feature a new collection named ‘Time’.

In the British Collection (St James’s Church), SCP will launch a new Peonia armchair by Wilkinson and Rivera, a low-lying sculptural armchair made at a specialist factory in Norfolk, using 100% natural and sustainable materials.

Meanwhile, Another Country will showcase its new ‘Series Five’ furniture inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement.

 

Detail

 

At Detail at the Order of St John, Omexco will unveil three new ranges, including the Archipelago design crafted from Capiz shells and shimmering mica minerals.

 

While Arte presents its new Lanai collection (pictured above), featuring hand-crafted designs inlaid or embroidered with rattan and raffia, Kasthall will return with its new Vichy collection, a modern interpretation of the classic gingham pattern.

 

Wallpaper design studio Erica Wakerly has teamed up with Sixteen3 to debut a new fabric collection (see image above), which will be shown at the latter’s Bastwick Street showroom as part of a pop-up that examines the evolving nature of workspaces Joining CDW and the neighbourhood for the first time is British lighting manufacturer J. Adams & Co, launching its new St John Street showroom just in time for the festival.

Collaborating with tile expert Solus, the in-house team has repurposed materials from the site and factory offcuts to create stunning terrazzo tiles and worktops.

Also new to the festival is Pooky Lighting, showcasing its new collection of rechargeable lights at Light at House of Detention.

 

New Creatives

 

CDW continues its tradition of championing emerging talent, spotlighting a diverse range of newcomers this year.

Showing at Platform (70 Cowcross Street), Selfish Customs collaborates with local makers in East Anglia, repurposing farming by-products such as raw fleece, reed and barley straw to create unique homeware.

Visitors can explore the studio’s creations alongside Colombian art historian-turned-designer Manuela Cabrales, who is launching shawls, trousers and handcrafted lamps using materials like lotus fibre and orange peels.

Also featured is Barcelona-based Isabel Francoy‘s La Sobremesa collection, which blends wicker weaving and glassblowing with modern design.

At Light, designer Tabitha Bargh will present her new lighting collection titled ‘Poly’.

Utilising waste estate agent advertising boards made from Correx, typically unsustainable and non-biodegradable polypropylene, Bargh reimagines sustainability, crafting each piece with precision in her Brighton studio.

In the British Collection, Granite + Smoke will introduce its new hand-tufted rugs created in collaboration with Roger Oates Design.

Crafted from 100% British blended wool, each rug undergoes meticulous hand-finishing in Devon after being spun and dyed in Yorkshire.

 

Trend: The new Stone Age

 

Stone is currently experiencing a renaissance, emerging as a highly sought-after material in the realms of architecture and design.

With prestigious hospitality projects like The Ivy, Annabel’s and Harry’s Bar (see above) under its belt, Spectra Stone excels in sourcing, engineering and fitting natural and semi-precious stone in a manner that transcends mere functionality, elevating it to the realm of artistry.

The British company will showcase its most exclusive collection of marble species at Old Sessions House.

Also, keep an eye out for two remarkable installations celebrating natural stone on Clerkenwell Green.

British suppliers Albion Stone and Hutton Stone have commissioned architects Artefact to design ‘Brick from a Stone’, showcasing stone bricks being launched by both companies this year and illustrating the low-energy process involved in producing them.

On 23 May at 10:00, visitors can also join a dedicated talk on this subject matter led by a panel of experts – including Amin Taha of Groupwork and Benedetta Rogers of Artefact – at 15 Clerkenwell Close.

Meanwhile, Stone Federation has teamed up with Squire and Partners to create an explorative structure named ‘Stone Tapestry: Beyond the Surface’.

This installation aims to demonstrate the sustainability, versatility and beauty of natural stone, featuring materials not only from Albion Stone and Hutton Stone but also from Britannicus Stone, Dunhouse Quarry and Tradstocks.

Benchmark will bring a new adaptable storage system, developed with Foster + Partners, to the festival, featuring full carbon footprint labelling, a lifetime repair service and a take-back scheme.

Independent makers such as Matthew Burt and Dovetailors transform furniture into art forms.

The former will present ‘Making from the Collection’, offering its timeless designs as part of a made-to-order service, while the latter will showcase a new range of stools with organic shapes resembling sculpted wood.

In addition to established businesses, a new wave of British furniture designers emerges.

Collinson embraces classic English craft and understated luxury with its freestanding kitchen and shelving unit, while James UK will unveil its Holton chair, reviving traditional Windsor chair-making with a contemporary aesthetic that celebrates joinery as art.

 

Workshops and Events

 

Neurodiversity has emerged as a leading topic gaining momentum among architects and designers, driven by the ambition to create environments that cater to diverse needs.

On 22 May (14:00) in Spa Fields, as part of Conversations at Clerkenwell, Ultrafabrics will assemble a panel of experts from Gensler, Squire and Partners, Pantone, and the founder of Seedlip and The Hidden 20% podcast.

They will delve into how multisensory design can transform and enrich our interactions with the world, particularly in workplaces and public spaces.

AllSfär is also addressing this important subject with a talk at its Baltic Street East showroom.

Scheduled for 22 May at 15:30, the session will be led by the founders of the neurodiversity consultancy ZoneND, focusing on designing for the senses and why it is the key to positive wellbeing and neuro-inclusive practice.

Workplace technology specialist LeftBrain will host a pop-up showroom at Second Home during the festival.

Themed ‘The Future of the Digital Workspace’, the line-up includes talks, networking events and consultations.

Look out for partners including The School of Life and Dropbox; the former will lead a talk on ‘Emotional Intelligence at Work’, while the latter will host a giveaway of a VR headset.

 

Notably, there’s an evening party on 23 May, featuring bespoke AI-generated cocktails crafted by a mixologist.

Fringe partner Cult Vision on Goswell Road will collaborate with 2023 Shed of the Year winner Archie Proudfoot on a live installation in its shop window throughout CDW.

The artist will employ gold leaf to create mirrored surfaces on the glass, playing with reflections of the viewer and the cityscape behind them.

Simultaneously, classic spring imagery will be incorporated, offering a unique visual experience.

Also as part of the Fringe programme, Pilbrow and Partners will open its doors with a life drawing class on 22 May at 18:00.

This event will feature life models seated among architectural models and material samples, inviting participants to capture the interplay between architecture and the human scale.

The session will be guided by artist Brian Sayers and is free to attend (advance booking required).

 

International Focus

 

This year, CDW has introduced three international pavilions to the festival.

The Italian Collection will feature 31 brands on the first floor of Design Fields, showcasing furniture, lighting and textiles.

Catapult will host the German Collection, presenting its country’s acclaimed brands and furniture, while the Danish Collection will take over the magnificent Paxton Locher House, highlighting the finest in Danish design, including Linie Design, Nordlux, Ro Collection and Sika Design.

Ceramics of Italy is also back on St John’s Square with a great line-up of tile experts, from Ninefifty to La Fabbrica and Acquario Due.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2024 takes place across EC1, London from 21 – 23 May.

For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com – registration is now open.