6 Interiors Trends from Clerkenwell Design Week 2024
Discover the products on display and the themes industry experts were discussing at the UK’s leading design festival
This year’s Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) was bigger and better than ever, with new venues, larger exhibition spaces and a huge array of influential exhibitors and speakers. The festival took place from 21 to 23 May at various destinations around the trendy east London neighbourhood. Read on to discover the key design themes on show at this year’s event.
2. Designs with a playful twist
There was a playful element in a number of the creations at the show, a theme highlighted in 2LG’s installation, Stay Playful (When No One Feels Like Playing). The design duo’s exhibit centred on a rejuvenated helter-skelter, evoking memories of childhood with a view to lifting the spirits of visitors.
More childhood nostalgia could be seen in SUPA RARE’s Train Ride Storage Set, a modular desktop accessory complete with carriages and characters that can be modified to become pen holders, containers and business card rests.
Elsewhere, Choisi Studio created playful personas for its Go Bro portable wireless lights, each of which features a large exposed bulb attired in fun headgear, ruffs and even hairpieces.
There was a playful element in a number of the creations at the show, a theme highlighted in 2LG’s installation, Stay Playful (When No One Feels Like Playing). The design duo’s exhibit centred on a rejuvenated helter-skelter, evoking memories of childhood with a view to lifting the spirits of visitors.
More childhood nostalgia could be seen in SUPA RARE’s Train Ride Storage Set, a modular desktop accessory complete with carriages and characters that can be modified to become pen holders, containers and business card rests.
Elsewhere, Choisi Studio created playful personas for its Go Bro portable wireless lights, each of which features a large exposed bulb attired in fun headgear, ruffs and even hairpieces.
3. Raw materials
There were plenty of examples of products that featured unadorned raw materials at this year’s CDW, with designers displaying the aesthetic qualities of these substances. Industville’s Natural Collection, for example, is a range of handcrafted pieces made from organic materials such as grass, wood, raffia and rattan.
Omexco was also celebrating raw materials by displaying its Intuition range of wallcoverings (pictured), in which natural fibres are combined to make gorgeous, tactile textures and patterns.
Easily find and hire renovation professionals on Houzz.
There were plenty of examples of products that featured unadorned raw materials at this year’s CDW, with designers displaying the aesthetic qualities of these substances. Industville’s Natural Collection, for example, is a range of handcrafted pieces made from organic materials such as grass, wood, raffia and rattan.
Omexco was also celebrating raw materials by displaying its Intuition range of wallcoverings (pictured), in which natural fibres are combined to make gorgeous, tactile textures and patterns.
Easily find and hire renovation professionals on Houzz.
4. The wonder of wood
Another material in focus at the event was timber in all its many forms. The Wood is Good panel discussion by Crafts Presents celebrated the use of wood in furniture, craft and architecture, while a number of beautifully made timber products were on display all over the show.
Furniture-maker Collinson’s freestanding kitchens and shelving (pictured) were on show within the British Collection, as were Dovetailors’ ergonomically sculpted nesting tripod stools in solid oak, walnut or ebonised beech.
Meanwhile, Benchmark highlighted its new ILE range of modular workspace furniture, which is made of solid timber in collaboration with Foster + Partners.
Another material in focus at the event was timber in all its many forms. The Wood is Good panel discussion by Crafts Presents celebrated the use of wood in furniture, craft and architecture, while a number of beautifully made timber products were on display all over the show.
Furniture-maker Collinson’s freestanding kitchens and shelving (pictured) were on show within the British Collection, as were Dovetailors’ ergonomically sculpted nesting tripod stools in solid oak, walnut or ebonised beech.
Meanwhile, Benchmark highlighted its new ILE range of modular workspace furniture, which is made of solid timber in collaboration with Foster + Partners.
5. Spotlight on stone
There was also a focus on natural stone at this year’s festival, with talks and products celebrating its renaissance.
On Clerkenwell Green, Albion Stone and Hutton Stone commissioned architects Artefact to build an installation, Brick from a Stone, to highlight the low-energy production process of stone bricks (pictured), while Stone Federation created Stone Tapestry: Beyond the Surface, a structure that illustrates the sustainability and versatility of natural stone.
A standout product range at the show was the Sovereign stone radiator collection. These stunning pieces are carved from a piece of natural stone, creating a functional yet uniquely organic item.
There was also a focus on natural stone at this year’s festival, with talks and products celebrating its renaissance.
On Clerkenwell Green, Albion Stone and Hutton Stone commissioned architects Artefact to build an installation, Brick from a Stone, to highlight the low-energy production process of stone bricks (pictured), while Stone Federation created Stone Tapestry: Beyond the Surface, a structure that illustrates the sustainability and versatility of natural stone.
A standout product range at the show was the Sovereign stone radiator collection. These stunning pieces are carved from a piece of natural stone, creating a functional yet uniquely organic item.
6. Doubling down on circularity
Designers continue to inspire when it comes to finding sustainable solutions, and exhibitors at 2024’s CDW were no exception. A whole array of products were on display that sought to reduce waste and embrace circularity.
Alusid’s Mas tiles, available through Parkside Tiles, for instance, are manufactured using waste from the tile manufacturing process in Spain, while Vescom UK’s Moore upholstery fabric contains 100% recycled post-consumer material.
Elsewhere Spark & Bell’s Florence wall light (pictured) in Oyster and Onyx is crafted from recycled CD cases, and Choisi’s PCB side table is made from recycled electronic circuit boards (PCB) with 3D-printed connectors and bamboo rod legs.
Tell us…
Did you visit Clerkenwell Design Week this year? Which products and installations stood out for you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Designers continue to inspire when it comes to finding sustainable solutions, and exhibitors at 2024’s CDW were no exception. A whole array of products were on display that sought to reduce waste and embrace circularity.
Alusid’s Mas tiles, available through Parkside Tiles, for instance, are manufactured using waste from the tile manufacturing process in Spain, while Vescom UK’s Moore upholstery fabric contains 100% recycled post-consumer material.
Elsewhere Spark & Bell’s Florence wall light (pictured) in Oyster and Onyx is crafted from recycled CD cases, and Choisi’s PCB side table is made from recycled electronic circuit boards (PCB) with 3D-printed connectors and bamboo rod legs.
Tell us…
Did you visit Clerkenwell Design Week this year? Which products and installations stood out for you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Perfectly imperfect surfaces were celebrated throughout Clerkenwell this year, as designers embraced character in materials. Marazzi’s Slow collection of terracotta tiles celebrate the uneven and flawed aspect of this traditional material.
Forbes & Lomax Bespoke showcased its Verdigris collection of light switches and sockets (pictured), which have a richly textured bronze patina, while Edmund Bell displayed its Crush chenille upholstery, which gives seating a vintage shabby-chic look.