Clerkenwell Design Week 2015: A week of fun, sun and style

27th May 2015

By Collette Black

We had such a great week discovering brilliant design talent and getting your amazing feedback on our brand new Sebastian Cox Kitchen. Here are 5 of our highlights from Clerkenwell Design Week 2015…

Pinch

pinch

Every time we called back into the office for a cuppa and a catch up Pinch’s stand, located in the Design Factory, was brought up by our excited colleagues. We loved the beautifully simple oak and walnut furniture teamed with white tiling and flashes of vibrant green and neon. The texture added by the layered front panels of the wooden sideboards, which appeared as miniature doll-house pieces in the back cabinets, was a really interesting feature which was in keeping with the textured wood trend of many of the furniture pieces.

Platform

Walking down the steps into the eerie holding cells of Clerkenwell’s past prisoners, I didn’t quite know what to expect but I was blown away by the exhibits unique use of this historic building. Feeling more like a production than a showroom, the rustic brick coves created a maze-like set up allowing you to discover the hidden treasures of the fresh faced designers.

platform-exhibit

The amazing lighting displays only added to the atmospheric feel, illuminating the dark dingy cells with spirals of light and colour. Rubertellidesign used wrapped string and coloured lights to create these funky light features which resembled Spirograph’s sophisticated grown up sister. Sarah Dehandschutter experimented with shape in these hanging lights to create a chic display that wouldn’t be out of place in any of London’s coolest bars.

Dezeen Watch Store

dezeen

The ironic use of apples in Dezeen’s display highlights how they have decided to go back to basics. Focusing on quality, Dezeen harked back to Clerkenwell’s illustrious clock making history with these traditional, elegant designs creating a style that is truly timeless.

We found them in their pop-up shop located in the Design Factory, however, you can visit their showroom in Stoke Newington, north London or you can browse the cool collection on their website here.

Pop up installations 

From colourful perspex tunnels to wonderful winding wood to a rainbow of tiles and mirrors – these little treats for the eyes were dotted around the district creating an urban gallery on the streets of Clerkenwell. And yes, the beautiful sunshine was an added bonus!

cdw-1

Cousins & Cousins team up with GX Glass to create a multicoloured jewel-like pavilion which literally shone in the sunshine! We really enjoyed getting the chance to see some young artists at work doodling their designs on the vibrant walls of this fun interactive installation.

invisible-store-of-happines

Our collaborator Sebastian Cox’s ‘Invisible Store of [Happiness]’ designed with Laura Ellen Bacon created a bit of a buzz at last weeks festival. Pulling in an international crowd excited to see what these two young designers had produced, the interesting textural sensation did not disappoint! The manipulated American hardwood transformed into mesmerising twirls of beauty contained in a structural elegant frame reflected a true marriage of the designers opposing styles. Proving that opposites really do attract.

cdw-2

Faced with a wall of white tiles I was wondering what all the hype was about, until I turned around to discover a rainbow of colour! Walking along the wall of mirrors broken by horizontal panels of Johnson Tiles was like watching yourself star in a flip book movie. There are so many beautiful pictures of the wall thanks to their Twitter competition. Check them out using the #MyVerve.

 

We can’t wait to see what 2016 has to offer!

Images by deVOL