Clerkenwell Design Week Announces New Partnership For Scaled Up Return to London

About the 2023 festival

The 12th edition of CDW will again take place in the heart of Clerkenwell – historically a melting pot of craftsmen and makers, and now home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else in the world. The 2023 festival is set to offer the biggest programme to date – with more than 600 events taking place across the EC1 neighbourhood.

Since inception in 2009, CDW has established itself as one of the foremost independent festivals in the global design calendar, championing design excellence, creativity and innovations.

“We’re thrilled to be back with Clerkenwell Design Week this May,” says Cera-Marle.“CDW is always known for being one of the key destinations for specification – as well as discovering new talent and ideas – for architects, interior designers and creative minds alike.”

“This year we have a strong line-up of brands, partners and speakers joining our programme – which we look forward to announcing in spring. From product showcases to one-off installations, headline talks to networking events, CDW 2023 will bring some of the most exciting and forward-thinking content to Clerkenwell – while celebrating the best of design and creativity from around the world.”

The 2023 festival welcomes two new additions to its exhibition venues across Clerkenwell, taking the total number to 12. Hosting an array of temporary shows, this year’s venues include:

• Design Fields – home to international furniture and interiors brands;
• Contract – home to commercial interiors;
• Light – home to international lighting brands;
• Project – home to workplace furniture and solutions;
• Elements – home to architectural hardware and finishes;
• British Collection – home to the best of British interiors brands;
• Detail – home to luxury interiors;
• Platform – home to emerging design talent;
• Old Sessions House – home to brand pop-ups and activations, and also the festival hub offering CDW visitors free access between 23 – 25 May;
• Ceramics of Italy – home to Italian tile brands;
• (NEW) The Garden – home to outdoor furniture; and
• (NEW) Catapult – home to contemporary design for office, hospitality and retail.

What to expect

Together, these 12 unique venues will present over 300 design brands and emerging talent – covering furniture, kitchens and bathrooms, textiles, home interior accessories, lighting, materials and surfaces. Some of the participants include: Ercol, Dare Studio, Benchmark, Another Country, Christian Watson, James Burleigh, KI, Meridiani, Saba Italia, Samuel Heath, Romo, Ultrafabrics, Spark & Bell, Chelsom, Jonathan Coles, and Curiousa. Click here for the latest exhibitor list.

Another significant aspect of CDW is its network of showroom partners (full list), with an extensive line-up of topic-led initiatives and events; from product launches and exhibitions to workshops and panel discussions. This year, expect to see over 130 established names from both the UK and overseas – including: Ideal Standard, Kohler, VitrA, Cosentino, Gessi, Iris Ceramica, Arper, Fritz Hansen, Fredericia, Icons of Denmark, Modus, Flokk, Orangebox, Bisley, Lintex, Allermuir, Bolon, Camira Fabrics, Formica, Solid Nature, Havwoods, Marazzi, Strata Tiles and Parkside.

Meanwhile, eight destinations across Clerkenwell – including the Goldsmiths’ Centre, Paxton Locher House, Bourne and Hollingsworth, Groupwork, the Museum of the Order of St John, Yotel, Brewhouse Yard and Cowcross Yards – will be taken over by a selection of international brands and trade institutions; for instance, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses and Incheon City will present a design showcase at the Order of St John.

Alongside product and showroom showcases, CDW will also bring a series of specially commissioned, site-specific installations – as part of CDW Presents – as well as brand activations from the likes of Budweiser Budvar, Baux, Lammhults, Jennifer Newman, Texaa, Swatchbox, Habbio and Universal Fibers to the streets of Clerkenwell during the festival. Watch this space for further announcements.

Also returning to CDW is Conversations at Clerkenwell – a compelling schedule of daily talks aimed to explore current industry topics, drawing upon insight, opinion and debates from designers, architects and business leaders alike. Curated by brand consultant, Katie Richardson, the 2023 talks will be hosted in a purpose-built theatre in Spa Fields – sponsored by RAK Ceramics. The full line-up of speakers will be revealed in spring.

Last but not least, throughout the festival, various design studios will open their doors to visitors who can participate in a range of creative workshops – as part of the Fringe programme – whilst enjoying a variety of discounts and deals offered by local food and drink partners.

In 2022, CDW returned for the first time after the pandemic, attracting 30,424 visitors from the UK and overseas.

The 12th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week takes place across EC1, London from 23 – 25 May 2023. More details about the upcoming event will be announced in due course. For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com.

Cover image: Photo credit © Sam Frost