Installations, Collaborations, Talks and Events at Clerkenwell Design Week 22 – 24 May 2018

Posted in Events, News on 13 April, 2018

This May, Clerkenwell will reveal a new series of collaborations for the ninth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW). ‘CDW Presents’ brings new design projects and street spectacles commissioned especially for the festival in locations around Clerkenwell. Inviting some of the leading pioneers in the creative industry, these projects aim to push the boundaries of design, in terms of concepts, process and material capabilities. The Fringe gives visitors a chance to explore the rich creativity within the area; from tours of Clerkenwell’s colourful history, to mindful meditation and origami demonstrations, local practices will open their doors to host an array of workshops and displays during the festival. Conversations at Clerkenwell in partnership with Mapei has also become an important arena in which to raise industry issues with a selection of high-calibre speakers exploring current industry topics.

CDW Presents

Integral to the festival’s unique structure, the CDW Presents programme offers never-before-seen collaborations in a series of public facing installations and an insight into temporary architecture and materials. Visitors can experience new approaches and installations in key locations spread along the CDW ‘exhibitions trail’, which connects the festival’s seven unique exhibition venues all for free.

#YourToteCounts intends to address the issue of a surplus of tote bags replacing unsustainable plastic bags. In 2008 the UK Environment Agency (UKEA) published a study of resource expenditures for various bags: paper, plastic, canvas, and recycled-polypropylene tote bags, and found that the ecological footprint of a cotton tote bag is 327 times worse than a regular plastic bag. Print Club London will be providing printers for the installation, where visitors can bring unwanted totes to be customised with designs created by Chelsea College of Art students giving them new life. There will be optional donation points with the proceeds going to CDW’s official charity partner Maggie’s. Five striking designs will be printed, with an esteemed judging panel having chosen four of them. The fifth and final winner Nancy Holloway, was chosen by the CDW audience.

Pipe Line by talented young designer Lou Corio Randall will be exhibited throughout Clerkenwell demonstrating a new and colourful approach to street furniture, from bike racks to benches, all formed using a single continuous curved line of steel.

CDW are proud to present Royal Approval, an installation created by Kinetech Design in collaboration with Amari Interiors, Applelec and Timberfusion for one of Clerkenwell’s most renowned sites; the Arch of St John. St John’s Gate saw the first performances of some of Shakespeare’s most famous works performed in front of Queen Elizabeth I, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth. Kinetech Design has drawn on the history of the arch and showcase their strong kiri-origami structure evoking an Elizabethan ruff.

Following on the theme of sustainability, a number of practices including, TDO Architecture, have been commissioned to create way-finding sculptures in polystyrene that will be situated around Clerkenwell during the week. The sculptures will be 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 per cent recyclable (98 per cent of it is air). So we are commissioning these beacons at CDW with their end-of life destination fully diverted from landfill.”

studio DA, a new architecture practice will also be involved in the project and their sculpture will be based upon a famous ghost story of Clerkenwell. In 1762 a landlord claimed his house and his daughter was haunted by a ghost and regular séances were held in the crypt of St John’s to determine whether this was true. It wasn’t.

Hakwood, global leader in the design and manufacture of quality wood flooring and wall tiles returns to CDW in collaboration with Shape London to reveal the interactive installation ‘Behind Closed Doors’ located at the entrance to Spa Fields. Shape London will design a 3.2 metre high pop up street scene of Dutch town houses decorated with Hakwood Wall Tiles. Each house will have a small door revealing a series of miniature interiors designed by various architects from Shape’s Dragon Fly Place. The hidden rooms will be placed at various heights to invite visitors to interact with the installation and ‘discover’ all the rooms, which contain Hakwood flooring.

For the third consecutive year, Scale Rule will be giving St. James’ Churchyard a new focal point by realising 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 and become more aware of key natural elements around them. The project is generously supported by AKT II, Grimshaw, Jewson and WUP Doodle.

Design Studio Timorous Beasties, renowned for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers, will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of its collaboration with Brinton Carpets. A specially built pavilion in St John’s Square, designed by Mark Shaw of Shaw Architects, will showcase a brand new collection of carpets inspired by nature, unveiled for the first time during CDW.

Fringe

The CDW Fringe programme offers a multitude of events, from exhibitions and talks to installations and workshops as local businesses open their doors to CDW visitors. Carrying on Clerkenwell’s long history of making, EC1 is packed with cutting-edge architects and branding agencies to traditional craftspeople.

London-based architecture practice, Emulsion will be reconnecting visitors with their neighbourhood through an entertaining walking tour with Mr Londoner which dives into both the life-giving spa waters of Clerkenwell and the grim history of Smithfield as a place of execution. Emulsion will also be hosting a spatial meditation session with yoga teacher Natalie Cristal Morrison to explore how mindful movement and meditation can help connect people more intimately with their environment, enhancing the way they experience and appreciate space.

For more historical findings, London Metropolitan Archives will open their archives to uncover London’s lost buildings in an exhibition of prints and photographs, from Baynard Castle to Euston Arch, a surprising record of London from the 1500s to the twentieth century. Oriole, an award winning cocktail bar located underneath the historic Smithfield Markets will present a panel discussion on ‘Designing the World’s Best Bars’ with the design team behind award-winning bars, Oriole and Swift, along with a panel of industry experts.

Territory Studio is a creative specialist with a unique approach to motion design, visual effects and digital experiences, blending creative with technology to realise compelling future facing experiences. They will be telling the story of Clerkenwell’s enduring creative spirit, from the past and into the future. MOO, the digital print and design company that has reimagined the business card will be hosting design duo Patternity for a discussion exploring the power of creative collaboration for a sustainable and innovative world. Nirvana CPH x Fredrigoni UK will showcase ‘Tactility Speaks Paper’, an exhibition exploring paper as a creative tool for sensorial design and visitors will have the chance to foil papers with a workshop hosted by Foilco.

The Creative Edit will be curating a pop up shop for design enthusiasts in collaboration with Creative Clerkenwell during CDW, featuring independent designers, UK makers and local creatives. Three Japanese designers based in London are also exhibiting under the name Tukuro at the Sway-gallery during CDW. Kei Tominaga will showcase metal designs, Ikuko Iwamoto will demonstrate the decoration process of her porcelain ceramics, whilst paper artist Naori Priestly will show visitors how to create modular origami to visitors.

Innovative co-working space Fora will be hosting an array of activities throughout CDW. Scottish design duo Timorous Beasties will present Craigend, their third collection with Brintons in conversation with Emma Cassidy, Head of Creative Design at Brintons in the space. Fora will host a seminar on wellness in the workplace as well as other talks, photography exhibitions and launches. Habit Action will be hosting a seminar about the science behind creating amazing workspaces by combining left brained researchers and right-brained design artists in order to rehumanise the workplace.

City University’s School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering intends to showcase the creative work of its students with a design showcase to celebrate over a century of excellent design at City university. Jewellery designer Corinne Hamak will be showcasing her work during CDW, whilst McCaul Goldsmiths will be showcasing wax carving and diamond setting techniques in store.

Also taking part are BDP, CULT VISION, Hutchinson & Partners, Jestico + Whiles and PORCELANOSA, Lipton Plant Architects, Patrick Lewis Architects, SimpsonHaugh and Unity.

Conversations at Clerkenwell in partnership with Mapei

Located at Design Fields, Conversations at Clerkenwell in partnership with Mapei is the place to hear world-renowned designers discussing the day’s most pressing topics at Design-Fields. Talks are ticketed at £5 and the full 2018 programme will be announced closer to the show but confirmed talks are outlined below:

– Timorous Beasties, in conversation with James Mclachlan

– Ola Rune from CKR / Claisson Koivisto Rune – in conversation with Max Fraser

– Patrizia Moroso – in conversation with Bethan Ryder

– SBID Colour Council – ‘Blue for 20/20’. Colour trend session with Carolina Calzada from SBID’s Colour Council

– ‘Be Human: Social Media Strategy in 2018’. A social media masterclass with Charlene C Lam from Creative Clerkenwell

– BIID future trends session chaired by Charles Leon (BIID President) with Nicola Harding (Harding & Read), David Collins Studio and Rachel Forster

– Icons and Crimes – presented by James McLachlan

– The Future of the Square Mile – Presented by Elissaveta Marinova with Jacob Loftus (General Projects) and Chris Hayward (City of London Corporation)

– Seymour Powell – The Magic of Hospitality with CEO Adrian Caroen

– Eporta – Future trends in collaboration with WGSN

– Eporta – Lighting trend session

– ‘Darc Thoughts’ – Lighting session focused on trends within interior design and architecture. Chaired by Helen Ankers, Editor of Darc with Paul McNulty, Jo Littlefair (Goddard Little Fair) and Jennifer Pakuls

– FredriksonStallard explore their recent work and new projects

– Plastic Fantastic with Print Your City, Made Thought and Happstenance Workshop, chaired by FranklinTill

– Myths of Sustainability chaired by Max Fraser