An impressive 34,060 visitors from 73 countries descend upon the heart and home of London’s design destination in Clerkenwell for arguably the most important commercial design festival that the capital city has to offer. The ninth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), sponsored by Armourcoat Acoustic, delivered huge benefit to London’s creative hub with over 65,757 new business leads generated during the three-day festival – a 14% increase on 2017. With more than 200 brands exhibiting across the 7 venues and 100 showrooms, CDW injected life to the area from 22 -24 May and further cemented the festival as a key event on the international design calendar. We’re sharing a few of our favourite festival finds, initiatives, or new designs which emerged at Clerkenwell, starting with the most must-see installations.
The design industry at large is increasingly acknowledging the global sustainability crisis, so it comes as no surprise that sustainability initiatives became another hot topic at Clerkenwell Design Week as the pursuit of sustainable solutions becomes the focal point for many.
Chelsea College of Art is no exception; conversely to the nationwide mission to combat the plastic pandemic which has been headlining the news since the government introduced a law for large retailers to charge for all single-use plastic carrier bags, the Your Tote Counts campaign instead attempted to address the overwhelming surplus of tote bags which are intended to replace the excessive and unsustainable use of plastic bags. Interestingly, and surprisingly, canvas bags may cause more detriment to the environment than the plastic ones they are designed to replace. In 2008, the UK Environment Agency (UKEA) published a study of resource expenditures for various bags: paper, plastic, canvas, and recycled-polypropylene tote bags whereby cotton tote bags exhibited the highest and most severe global-warming potential since they require more resources to produce and distribute. The study revealed that the ecological footprint of a cotton tote bag is actually 327 times worse than a regular plastic bag. A Screen Press installation at CDW encouraged the upcycling of tote bags and allowed visitors to bring unwanted totes to be customised with designs created by graphic design students from Chelsea College of Art, in collaboration with the Print Club London. Re-purposing unwanted totes with a fresh new design intended to enlighten audiences and address the issue whilst encouraging us to reuse and recycle when we can. Visitors could also make donations with the proceeds going to CDW’s official charity partner, Maggie’s.
In the theme of confronting misleading discourse about sustainability and shedding light on common misconceptions about what materials are considered sustainable and which ones are truly harmful to the environment, TDO Architecture, Studio 8Fold and Studio DA were commissioned to create way-finding sculptures in polystyrene to be situated around Clerkenwell during the week. The sculptures were produced by Bakers Patterns who specialise in polystyrene model making and manufacturing.
Creative Director of CDW Max Fraser says,“Polystyrene is considered one of the ‘bad’ materials of our time as it can’t be recycled through regular municipal recycling schemes. However, if the material is sent back to the manufacturer, it is 100% recyclable (98% of it is air). So we are commissioning these beacons at CDW with their end-of life destination fully diverted from landfill.”
The Dutch bespoke wood manufacturer Hakwood and Shape London collaborate to create an interactive installation. Hakwood’s ‘Behind Closed Doors’will be a 3.2m high installation designed and fabricated by Shape London. A miniature street-scape was constructed to that draw inspiration from the Dutch townhouses, with each house including a small door which reveals a series of miniature interiors designed by various architects from Shape’s Dragon Fly Place Collective. The installation was designed to demonstrate that any interior design or form of décor is an open door for creative inspiration.
For the third consecutive year, Scale Rule gave St. James’ Churchyard a new focal point by implementing a pavilion design conceived by GCSE students from around London. This year’s winning concept responded to the theme of sustainability by proposing a sensitive metaphor: layers representing past, present and future will create a kaleidoscopic oculus, inviting visitors to take a moment to direct their eyes up an become more aware of the key natural elements around them.
Loll Designs
Modern eco-friendly furntiure manufacturer, Loll Designs, showcased the most popular pieces, from the classic Adirondack lounge chairs to the new outdoor furniture Fresh Air collection. Not only does their modern outdoor furniture add a unique and contemporary aesthetic to outdoor spaces, but all of Loll’s products are mindful of the environment, using 100% recycled and recyclable material – mostly from discarded plastic milk bottles. To date, Loll has helped upcycle over 70 million milk bottles!
The Cabinet
Mark Saward, founder of The Cabinet debuts ‘The Sideboard’ which takes it’s influence from nature, contrasted with contemporary materials and construction techniques. Raw smoked oak veneer is inlaid on to stone textured Valchromat to stunning effect. Adopting a minimalist approach with maximum impact by showcasing nature in it’s natural state. Each piece is bespoke as no one tree-cut edge veneer is the same. Utilising a soft close vertical lift hinge system, the opening of The Sideboard adds to the overall drama of this standout statement piece.
Light
London based Leather Architectural Ironmongery and Leather Products Design firm with a pro
This year saw a new, exciting exhibition dedicated to light. The brick vaults of nightclub, Fabric, featured an exhibition of top international lighting brands unveiling their latest cutting-edge collections and innovative new products presented as spectacular stand-alone lighting installations. Exhibitors included Bert Frank with a striking range of luxury, mid-century inspired lighting, which has already won a string of industry awards. Rich Brilliant Willing, Brooklyn-based studio that designs and manufactures LED fixtures for hospitality, workplace, and residential projects. Marc Wood Studio presented its debut lighting collection, Pleated Crystal which comprises of ceiling pendants, a side light and a floor standing lamp. Handmade in Bohemia and London, the collection draws upon Marc’s love for Czech artisan glass work and British engineered detailing.
Elements
Also new this year, CDW brought together a leading selection of ironmongery, hardware, switch plates and architectural accessories within a street-market style pavilion on St Johns Square, becoming the go-to destination for designers looking for the perfect finishing touches. Brands included the London-based leather ironmongery and product design firm House of Eroju, and the specialists in decorative metalwork and door hardware solutions for luxury hotels and residences, Carrson International, among many others. British light switch company, Forbes & Lomax introduced the Aged Brass light switch to their existing Invisible range. The new collection which adopts an antique aesthetic has been left unlacquered, allowing it to patinate even more over time for an aged and rustic effect.
To see more from Clerkenwell Design Week 2018 or find out about next years event, click here.
Following the design extravaganza that was every designer’s dream at Salone del Mobile in April last month (read our Salone round-up here), we take a snapshot look at what design events May had to offer and still has in store for all the design professionals, students and enthusiasts among us who are keen to keep the momentum going after such a triumphant exhibition of the design industry’s latest products and trends in Milan.
Vectorworks are committed to developing the world’s best cross-platform CAD and BIM software, providing powerful tools to help designers capture their ideas, communicate effectively, and realise their vision with their innovative creative solutions.
They hosted a free seminar to teach designers how to utilise the Vectorworks software and produce high quality visuals; covering the use of VectorworksArchitect and Renderworks to create plans, sections and elevations, as well as visualisations of interior design schemes. If you’re keen to continually develop your skills as an interior designer, making the most of free, valuable seminars like this is the best way to stay relevant and keep your finger on the pulse of an ever-evolving industry which is increasingly relying on technology to aid project development from concept to construction and improve the design process.
Check out other Vectorworks events, here, or catch one of their free webinars! Click here to find out more.
Whether you directly work in, are involved in, or simply interested in the built environment, whether it be through interior design, architecture, engineering or the wider construction industry, we all have a responsibility to make sure the profession is more diverse, inclusive, and representative of the societies and communities this line of work functions within.
“Inclusive design is a process of designing, building, managing and populating places and spaces that ensures that they work for as many people as possible.” – Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The BDP Birmingham studio’s Kieren Majhail hosted a cross institute event to discuss diversity in the built environment with other hosts including Pinsent Masons, Birmingham Architectural Association, and Women in Property. The subject is particularly topical as recently published gender pay gap figures suggest the construction industry needs to significantly improve in recruiting and retaining women, particularly at senior level, and that racial equality is potentially an even more prominent issue. A panel of guest speakers were brought together to discuss these issues and look at ways of improving diversity across the industry as a whole.
You can help support diversity in the built environment too by attending, engaging with and talking about events like this! Support BDP’s next event to promote and celebrate women in engineering on Friday 22nd June 2018. Click here to find out more.
The SBID Business Breakfast Meeting interior design events aim to bring together relevant industry professionals. Connecting prestigious designers or specifiers with high quality manufacturers to facilitate networking opportunities and encourage the development of professional partnerships to generate mutually beneficial business opportunities. This Breakfast Meeting was hosted the experts in handmade and ethically-sourced beds and bedding, Hästens Beds. The events are designed on a monthly basis so if you missed out this time, make sure you register your interest for the next Breakfast Meeting on 13th June 2018 with Poggenpohl to avoid disappointment.
SBID networking opportunities are exclusively available for SBID members. If you would like the chance to attend, find out how to become a member, here.
This month will see the ninth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), one of the UK’s leading design events, take place from May 22-24th 2018 in EC1; the heart and home of design. As the annual focus for London’s leading design district, the festival programme has been created to reflect the unique nature of this vibrant London hub which is home to a plethora of creative businesses, design consultancies, showrooms and architectural practices. 2018 will again play host to hundreds of design events including design-led fringe events, a programme of showroom presentations, product launches, workshops, talks and public-facing installations. Activities will run over three days and follow a distinct trail from North to South, beginning at Spa Fields and stretching down to Farringdon.
In partnership with Mapei UK, Conversations at Clerkenwell has become an integral arena to introduce and discuss new products, raise industry issues and network with fellow A&D professionals. Our SBID Colour Council Co-chair, Carolina Calzada Oliveira, will be among the high-calibre of speakers exploring current industry topics on 24th May 2018. She will be leading the conversation in a colour trends session about the influence of colour in different spaces and the practicalities of the colour blue through applied colour psychology, with a focus on interior designers and commercial projects.
Click here to find out more.
Maison Images D’epinal and six other creative french workshops open a new showroom. On May 24, a new exhibition space dedicated to interior decorators and architects will open in the Marais in the former space of the renowned Zürcher contemporary art gallery. Seven French creative houses are joining forces to showcase their complementary savoir-faire and French craft excellence at the service of interior decorators and architects. Called the MANUFACTURE GALLERY PARIS and distributed throughout various different rooms, the showrooms offer visitors the opportunity to discover beautiful creations, tailor-made furniture, upholstery, table art, layout and decoration for hotels, palaces and private residences.
Discover more about the 7 exhibiting creative brands…
Interested in textiles and prints? If so, you can join this CPD talk and guided tour on the origin and history of the Textile Design Archive held by the John Lewis Partnership in their Heritage Centre based in Maidenhead. Starting at 11am, this talk focuses on historic textile printing techniques, the work of reputable designers and how they have inspired more contemporary designs and products. This is followed by a Q&A session with a John Lewis Partnership Archivist, then a guided tour of the Heritage Centre including the textile gallery, where the original artworks for many designs from c1800 onwards are displayed. Educate yourselves on the designs from the past, to give you inspirations for the future.
John Lewis for Business host their Talk and Tour CPD on multiple dates throughout the year. The next event will be held on the 20th June 2018. You can also see all the upcoming dates, here, or email [email protected] if you’re interested in attending.
This year, Arper will be opening the doors of its London home to present latest collections and new additions at Clerkenwell Design Week 2018. For the third year running, the showroom will also be hosting the official Bloggers Lounge of the festival, a dedicated space for bloggers and media – the ideal place for working and networking, within an inspiring and engaging environment.
Arper Bloggers Lounge Opening Hours Tuesday 22nd April: 11.00 am – 2.00 pm Wednesday 23rd May: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm Thursday 24th May: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Bloggers Tour: Tuesday 22 May: 10.00 am – 11.00 am Meet at the Arper Bloggers Lounge for a dedicated Tour of CDW. Open to bloggers only. Booking required.
Opening Party (Invitation Only): Tuesday 22 May: 6.30 – 10 pm
The Design Museum Live: Wednesday 23rd May: All day Meet the Design Museum team who will be documenting its highlights from Clerkenwell Design Week.
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