clerkenwell design week celebrates 10th anniversary with 100s of events

for clerkenwell design week 2019, one of london’s most vibrant creative districts is set to become even more spectacular, engaging and inspiring from may 21-23, 2019. the event marks their 10th anniversary and celebrates with their biggest and best program to date. this will include hundreds of design-led fringe events, workshops, talks, open studios and showrooms, seven curated exhibitions, and unique temporary installations throughout the area.

more than 34,000 people attended in 2018, register for your free 2019 ticket, here.

CDW exhibitor hand & eye
(main image: CDW exhibitor thonet bauhaus 100)
all images courtesy of clerkenwell design week

a number of unique, site-specific installations will appear during clerkenwell design week. like candles on their birthday cake, 10 giant customized becons will be dotted around the district. titled ‘decade’, the three meter high designs will each be envisaged by a different creative, showcasing the designer’s individuality and imagination. from north to south, the beacons will form a clear trail that guides visitors through the main locations of the design festival.

‘decade’ installation by hakwood

a new walkway, ‘scale rule’, will temporarily be placed within st john’s gate arch. whilst responding to its historic location, the design proposes a densely built timber structure that not only mimics the form of the archway but also reflects the area’s creative design culture at present. its geometries play on the idea of space by framing the original structure and carving a new walkway through itself. the design is interspersed with flickers of colors that intensify towards the top of the arch. this spectrum is innovatively created using recycled materials and fabrics.

‘scale rule’ in st john’s gate arch

‘once upon a time’ tells the rich yet sometimes dark tales from clerkenwell’s history. in collaboration with graphic design students from chelsea college of arts, a series of seven temporary art installations will be placed around the neighborhood. from interactive elements to informative graphics, each one is situated and inspired by a location. throughout the design week, lansdown’s london will provide a number of historical walking tours that will pass these installations.

st. james church by alistair ramage for the ‘once upon a time’ series

created by beau kerouac, ‘reflect us’ is an intriguing, exploratory and contemplative installation that tells the stories of the homeless on london’s streets. it aims to bridge gaps in society by confronting visitors with illuminated eyes etched, again, on 10 door sized gateways where they can face challenging subjects. using AR technology, the design exemplifies how, even by simply making eye contact, respectful actions can change someone’s day for the better. a percentage of the sale of each piece of artwork will be donated to julian house, a charity offering support to the homeless.

‘reflect us’ by beau kerouac

the streets of clerkenwell will also come alive with many more installations across the three-day design festival. the active workplace sensation that is ‘aeron hockey’ celebrates 25 years of the iconic herman miller chair by enabling visitors to come, take a seat and play as part of a rolling sports match. bottlehouse creates ‘bricks of the future’ by using low technological architectural, engineering and construction skills to transform other peoples discarded plastic waste into a temporary building block. project stone includes an ultra-compact dekton surface into their public outdoor installation. last but not least, over 100 brands will open up their showrooms to host a number of events including talks, workshops, installations and, of course, parties.

sky-frame by stephan hürlemann in 2018
image © sophie mutevelian

with over 300 exhibiting brands in 2018, this number is expected to increase for 2019. as part of this, there will be seven exhibitions on show, with each one curated to a different theme. starting in the north of clerkenwell, design fields shows the best in international contemporary design. offering a rare chance to explore the depths of the house of detention, platform will showcase upcoming design talent within the historic setting. in the garden of st jamess church, project unites a range of leading contract furniture, lighting and surface brands. in the crypt of the church, however, the british collection will exhibit the designs of up and coming creatives from the UK. as its name suggests, detail highlights the practice and work of fine craftsmanship within the garden and crypt of st john. outside, on st john’s square, the elements exhibition returns to show a selection of ironmongery and architectural accessories in a street pavilion. the underground rooms of fabric nightclub will, once again, illuminate visitors with the latest collections, stand-alone lighting installations and new products in light.

british collection exhibition in 2018
image © sophie mutevelian

2018 light exhibition in fabric nightclub
image © sophie mutevelian

remember to register for the design festival, here.

project info:

event: clerkenwell design week 2019

dates: 21-23 may, 2019