Clerkenwell Design Week 2017

Clerkenwell Design Week 2017 has come to a close and it's time for us to round up the best of the week. Our highlights include ingenious installations, emerging designers and, of course, the wonderful displays from our very own brands. 

Design Fields

Set in the delightful Spa Fields, Design Fields is a celebration of international and British talent.  Established brands such as Tacchini and laCividina had wonderful displays of soft minimalism mixed playfully with hints of colour.  Thonet made sure that their iconic bistro chairs were commanding attention, especially the Artistic dining chair and its intricate, knotted leg.  John Lewis’ Open Home collaboration with Doshi and Levien was also on display and really reflected the need for flexibility in the home today.

Additions

Now located in St John’s Square, Additions market-style setting is perfect for the charming accessories housed within.  Notable exhibits were Emma J Shipley’s whimsical, hand-drawn designs expertly printed onto cushions made from silk and backed with luxurious velvet and Grace Souky’s tableware that mixed bursts of colour with snatches of wood and statement metals.  

Platform

Down in the depths of the House of Detention, Platform radiates inspiration and talent from some of the best up-and-coming designers.  In the unfolding cells, there was much to discover, from glow in the dark lighting from MySlouch and fantastic Lego art by David Hughes to statement wooden tables from Belgian brand Pinscher. Ethical brand Elise Som had a particularly interesting offering with their Sacred Geo Collection of side tables made almost entirely from recycled glass and topped with a comfortable leather cushion when used as a stool.

British Collection

At just two years old, the British Collection is fast becoming our favourite exhibit at Clerkenwell. There you’ll find some very exciting brands representing Britain in furniture, lighting and product design.  James Burleigh’s timber and laminate table made a striking statement stretching out along almost an entire length of a wall. The stand out in the room was MannMade London, which successfully combined hard-edged industrial style with beautifully rich pieces of wood to create something curiously gentle to look at.

Detail

Luxury interiors and craftsmanship were on display at this year’s Detail.  The ground floor of the Priory Church of the Order of St John housed leading brands such as Dedar, The Watermark Collection and Poliform.  Down below in the spectacular crypt were Micheal Northcroft and his Serafina collection, demonstrating his expert manufacturing techniques.

Project

Project displays the best and latest in the world of contract furniture and this year was no exception.  There were lots of examples of smart technology and design coming into play as well as some inventive concepts that would be perfect for flexible working environments.  A highlight was Godfrey Syrett and their seating that changes its form to suit different functions and number of people.  Bonus point: just outside the Project pavilion we came across TiiPii and their wondrous outdoor designs, perfect for lazing the day away.

Icon House Of Culture

Once again Fabric Nightclub played host to Icon’s House of Culture, completing Clerkenwell’s trio of prisons, churches and nightclubs.  The focus was on lighting and this was demonstrated through some spectacular displays from Curiousa & Curiousa and Pablo Designs.  Our wonderful brands Gloster, Dare Studio, Artemide and Bert Frank put on exciting exhibits; the latter adorned their stand with an excess of tropical plants, embracing this year’s Greenery.

Installations

Walking from exhibition to exhibition is always a joy at Clerkenwell as there is so much to see on the way.  The highlights of the installations this year have to be the overall fantastic display put on at Spa Fields.  The Beacon is true to its namesake and boldly stands out as you enter. Inspired by the House of Babel, its bright colours were the ideal partners to the glorious sun of the week.  A little further down was the zany BuzziJungle, a climbing frame for grown-ups that was designed to challenge the traditional boundaries of a workplace.  And finally, back for a second year, the Next Generation Design Pavilion was just as inspiring as 2016. A collaborative representation of GCSE design students from across London, the brief was to inspire socialising through architecture.

 

 

See you there next year!