Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), now in its 12th edition, will return to EC1 London between 23-25 May.
Taking place across the whole of Clerkenwell, the festival is set to offer its biggest programme yet. Featuring more than 600 events and, for the first time, merging with its sister show
Design London.
CDW 2023 sees a total of 12 exhibition venues across Clerkenwell including: Design Fields, Contract, Light, Project, Elements, British Collection, Detail, Platform, Ceramics of Italy, Old Sessions House (the festival hub), and two new additions – Catapult, and The Garden. While these unique venues will present over 300 design brands and emerging talent, an extensive network of more than 130 local showroom partners will host product launches, workshops and talks over the three days.
Architecture goes inflatable
Headlining this year’s CDW Presents programme is a specially commissioned installation by British artist Steve Messam – who exhibits internationally and is well known for his large-scale, inflatable artwork reimagining our everyday surroundings. At the festival, the County Durham-based artist will bring his distinctive public art – sponsored by 3D design software company, SketchUp – to historic St John’s Gate of the Order of St John. This site-specific piece, titled Gateway and measuring 6 m (high) by 15.5 m (long), will feature 27 giant spikes hand-sewn in a striking blue textile.
Sustainability is the norm
Creating a more sustainable way of living – from biodiversity to reduce-reuse-recycle – remains a key subject matter for many design manufacturers and makers. Using modern technology and the latest research, many explore and propose new ways to challenge the status quo while tackling these industry-wide issues with a global outlook.
As part of the CDW Presents series, Symbiocene living: Mycelium Building Block is an interpretive, artistic mycelium installation that encourages the public to envision and engage with fungi architecture. While the modular feature is made of mycelium blocks with a 3D printed timber shell, the blocks will be arranged to create a different formation incorporating abstract seating and towers on each day of the festival. Set to be situated outside Clerkenwell & Social on St John’s Square, this one-off installation is designed by East London-based PLP Architecture.
CDW has long established itself as a major platform for both established and emerging design businesses to showcase their latest innovations and forward-thinking ideas. Marlon Cera-Marle, design division director of Media 10 commented: “We’re thrilled to be back with an even bigger line-up, including some of the industry’s most dominant figures. From thought-provoking installations to exciting new names, we look forward to bringing an abundance of creativity and world-class content to the heart of Clerkenwell this May.”
For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com
Article supplied by Clerkenwell Design Week London