Clerkenwell Design Week is unlike any furniture-related event in the world. And here is its secret sauce: It blends a bit of art, a dash of “maker” culture, a dollop of office furniture and a pinch of first-class seminars, roundtables and learning.
When stirred together, the recipe creates a vibrant buzz; a show that has the glam of iSalone in a much more manageable package and the business sense of NeoCon or Orgatec without the hard sell.
But as Clerkenwell Design Week closes in London, it is also a show experiencing a bit of change. The event revolves around the Clerkenwell neighborhood, a hotbed of architecture and design (the highest concentration of A&D in any one place in the world) and, with it the flood of office furniture showrooms to serve the community.
Clerkenwell became this A&D hub because it had historically inexpensive office space. Artists were the first to arrive with architecture and design following. In recent years, office rents in the neighborhood have climbed, driving out the artists. The question becomes: Will the A&D community leave as well for less expensive hip neighborhoods like Shoreditch and Canary Wharf? While that isn't likely to happen soon, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Clerkenwell Design Week become something like Shoreditch Design Week in the future.
Regardless, the design community in London is here to stay and happy to rub elbows with its office furniture industry patrons, as evidenced by Humanscale's now-legendary closing night party at Barbican Centre. Hundreds gathered on Thursday to celebrate with Humanscale another successful Clerkenwell Design Week, even though the company's new Clerkenwell showroom is under construction and wasn't ready for the week.
No matter what happens in the future, Clerkenwell Design Week was a hit for those who made their way around the spectacular showrooms and temporary exhibitions during the three-day fair that covers the neighborhood in CDW's signature pink.
Trends emerged at Clerkenwell Design Week as well, some of them already rolling and others just getting off the ground. British design continues to be influenced by Tom Dixon and his mixed materials, including polished metals and wood. The mixing of materials keeps growing, too, whether it be wood and plastic, wood and metal or wood and glass. Did we mention wood? Yes, wood is back, with species being used ranging from ash to walnut, all maximizing the beauty of the natural product and the craftsmanship behind it.
Though British accents rule, Clerkenwell Design Week is beginning to attract a growing number of North American companies and visitors. “You are the third American I've met,” said the guard scanning badges at a venue just five minutes into the first day of the show. “Last year, I hardly met a one though the whole of the show.”
It was the American companies that packed the 35,000 attendees into the showrooms. Steelcase was mobbed with those hoping for a glimpse of its new SILQ chair. The company organized several presentations for attendees around its materiality and unique design. SILQ's decidedly European feel went over well with those who visited the company's Clerkenwell showroom.
Haworth also saw a lot of traffic to its showroom, which leads with the company's high-end European brands.
UltraFabrics, which has a North American headquarters in New York and high-tech fabrics from Japan, opened its first showroom in Clerkenwell with a party that brought together executives from the U.S., U.K. and Japan, along with a large crowd of architects and designers.
A growing number of North American brands are beginning to understand the power of the show, including those in the second annual North American Exhibition, this year a collection of mostly tech companies who showed their wares in the Project area of the fair. The exhibit is anchored by Nook, a mobile work and meeting space used to define the area. In addition to Nook and Steelcase, which showed its Series One chairs, the North American exhibition also included presentations by INDEAL, MyResourceLibrary, BIFMA, Fellowes/ESi, Intertek and Configura.
Of course, the British brands really shine at their home show. Bisley opened its first ever permanent Clerkenwell showroom with an exhibit called “Matter of Fact” (see related feature in today's issue). Bisley is one of the oldest and most respected office furniture makers in the U.K. It also has a North American base in New York City.
BOSS Design is a major player in the U.K. as well, which showed in its space in the heart of Clerkenwell. Its main showroom feature was its new Atom collection, a modular furniture line that can be used in public, collaborative spaces or to create privacy. The product literally clicks together. Its Mango self-contained work pod was a hit with attendees. Clerkenwell Design Week is an important time for the brand to connect to its U.K. and European customers, as well as those from around the world, said Chief Executive Officer Brian Murray.
“British design and British manufacturing have an important place in the office furniture industry,” he said, noting BOSS has a major job brewing at the World Trade Center complex in New York. “This show allows us to show the best of it and have a little fun with friends from architecture and design firms here and from the rest of the world as well. Clerkenwell Design Week is one of the most important events in our year.”
Another important event was held recently in Dudly, BOSS Design's hometown. Murray proudly showed off a video of a visit from British Prime Minister Theresa May, who stopped at the plant that was founded in 1983 and has about 250 workers.
Senator and Allermuir hosted scores of designers at its Clerkenwell showroom. Senator is the largest U.K. office furniture maker. Its brands have established quite a foothold in North America through its plant in Maumee, Ohio, and its Merchandise Mart showroom. While many know Allermuir in the U.S., the Senator brand is one of the best known in the U.K., and for good reason. Its focus on design was apparent, which some attendees comparing its design prowess to that of Vitra. High praise indeed.
A few brands like Vitra and Knoll have showrooms in Clerkenwell but do not officially participate in Clerkenwell Design Week, though both were open during the event.
With so many major brands in Clerkenwell, it might be easy to overlook the emerging brands, some small and local and others made up of just a single craftsperson. These entrepreneurial companies, in many cases, are setting the trends in British design.
Social Spaces is a new product and new concept designed and manufactured by Dams Furniture in the U.K. The innovative, contemporary design-led products are for corporate breakout spaces, open plan offices, reception areas, meeting rooms and dining areas.
Dams is a family owned U.K. manufacturer and wholesaler of office furniture. Dams Furniture Ltd was established in 2009, however the Dams brand dates back to 1967 and has a long-established history in the U.K. office furniture sector. It is based over three sites in Merseyside and has been so successful it is opening a new factory in September or October.
Though it has a limited export market, it is looking for distribution, including in the U.S. “There has been a heavy U.S. presence at Clerkenwell Design Week this year,” said Craig Petitt, a regional sales manager at the company. “All of the products we are showing are brand new from U.K. designers, manufactured wholly in the U.K.”
Clerkenwell proved once again how fun and creative it can be. Camira Fabrics' showroom featured an outside pen with several baby lambs, highlighting its wool fabric heritage. Its showroom is one of the best in Clerkenwell, with colorful fabrics and spools of yarn creating a beautiful space.
Europe was well represented at Clerkenwell, too.
Edsbyn, which has been producing great furniture since 1899, was showing a prototype of a tilted, height-adjustable table, kind of a hybrid between a sit-stand desk and a drafting table. Edsbyn would like to bring back the idea of a more ergonomic workplace and contribute to the debate. Is Tilt Table the way to go? A prototype of a hand-tilted desk was presented at Clerkenwell Design Week.
The company has a long history of Scandinavian design, working with the likes of Jens Fager, Andreas Engesvik and TEA, who created several of this year's products presented at Clerkenwell Design Week.