Clerkenwell Design Week returns in London

Clerkenwell Design Week will make a triumphant return to London from 21 to 23 May 2024, marking its 15th year as a global design festival.

Building upon its record-breaking 2023 edition, which drew over 37,000 visitors, the upcoming event is set to elevate the experience with new venues, expanded exhibition spaces, thought-provoking installations and a stronger-than-ever line-up of both British and international brands. Expect more than 600 curated events spread throughout the EC1 neighbourhood, complemented by a robust network of over 160 local design showrooms and 300 exhibitors across 12+ venues.

The 2024 festival welcomes three NEW exhibition venues, including Contract and Work on Clerkenwell Green, a pop-up space at The Goldsmiths’ Centre, both showcasing the latest designs for commercial and workplace interiors, and The Edit in Bourne and Hollingsworth, featuring some of the world’s leading contemporary design brands.

This year also sees British Collection double its size taking over the entire crypt of St James’s Church, including the Tom Dixon-furnished vestry, which will also host the popular ICON Talks series. Meanwhile, other returning venues housing an array of product-focused exhibitions comprise:

• Design Fields – home to contemporary furniture with an international focus, including over 35 Italian furniture and decorative brands;
• Light – home to global lighting companies and installations with more brands participating this year, as well as Darc’s curated talks;
• Project – home to contract furniture and surface design;
• Elements – home to architectural hardware and finishes;
• Detail – home to luxury interiors;
• Platform – home to emerging design talent and brands;
• Ceramics of Italy – home to Italian ceramic and porcelain tile brands; and
• Old Sessions House – atmospheric home to brand activations and presentations, as well as the festival hub offering CDW visitors free access between 21 – 23 May.

Together, these unique exhibition venues will present over 300 design brands and new talent, covering furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces, home accessories and product design. Moreover, as usual, local showroom partners, totalling over 160 established names, will host an extensive programme of product launches, talks and workshops.

In addition to the vibrant exhibitions and showrooms, various unique destinations across Clerkenwell – including Paxton Locher House (which will host a selection of Danish design brands), Brewhouse Yard, Cowcross Yards (which will present the best of Ukrainian designs), and Marx Memorial Library (participating for the first time) – will be transformed by a curated selection of international brands and trade institutions. The local architecture studio, Groupwork, led by Amin Taha, will once again be home to the latest presentation from the British furniture brand, Case Furniture.

An array of specially commissioned, site-specific installations will grace the streets of Clerkenwell, while activations from acclaimed brands will take over the whole of Clerkenwell Green during the festival.

Conversations at Clerkenwell, a schedule of daily talks exploring industry topics, will return – curated by brand consultant Katie Richardson. These talks will be hosted in a purpose-built theatre in Spa Fields, featuring expert speakers from the design, architecture and business sectors. The full line-up will be announced in spring.

Meanwhile, hosted in a temporary structure next to Design Fields, Design Meets will feature representatives and speakers from trade bodies and associations, engaging in a series of intimate, industry-led talks. Last but not least, over the three days of CDW, various design studios will invite visitors to take part in a whole host of creative workshops as part of the Fringe programme.