Following on from its successful inauguration last year, during which 18,000 people attended, Clerkenwell Design Week returned over the 24th-26th May with an ambitious programme of exhibitions, installations, discussions and parties across two main sites and myriad showrooms and spaces in the area. Exhibitors seemed satisfied with the number of visitors and interest in their products, confirming the importance of this event for manufacturers, retailers and design fans.

Clerkenwell Design Week

At the Farmiloe Building in St John Street, established brands showed new designs or presented their latest offerings for anyone who had chosen to bypass the bunfight that was the Milan Furniture Fair. The impressive building, which was once the home of Victorian lead and glass merchants, offered plenty of space for a diverse range of exhibitors, from the besuited salesmen of Ligne Roset to a smattering of Scandinavians (Muuto, Swedese, Offecct, Zero, Örsjö and more) and the best of British including Pinch, Dare Studio and Viaduct.

Deadgood Ltd were one of the British brands using this event to launch new products, including a collection designed by Lee Broom. The parquetry inspired furniture is made in walnut veneer with complementing brass accents and reflects the values that define deadgood’s approach; using handcrafted techniques and skilled labour sourced from around the UK.

The new desk from Another Country’s Series One

Also showing new designs were Another Country, whose much lauded first series of simple furniture inspired by archetypal forms has been embellished by a desk and bench which can be custom-made in different lengths. With Series One now almost complete there will be a great deal of anticipation over the launch of the second series which is scheduled for the London Design Festival in September.

Presenting at a trade fair for the first time was Brick Lane-based furniture brand Unto This Last who produce made to order furniture from birch ply using the latest digital manufacturing technologies. They have been gradually growing their product range and were showing a number of pieces including a digitally produced portrait that is carved from a solid surface by a mechanised milling machine.

The House of Detention

A new venue on Sans Walk (round the corner from PORT headquarters) hosted a second batch of exhibitors. The House of Detention was once a Victorian Prison and its dank underground passages were an interesting and atmospheric choice of location in which to present work by established and emerging design talent. However, the limited space in some of the cells made it awkward to move around and view the work properly while some of the furniture makers complained that the damp was affecting their pieces.

Wellington chair by Young & Norgate

Devon-based furniture makers Young & Norgate presented a beautifully crafted collection of limited edition pieces that can be custom-made in various dimensions or in different woods and coloured finishes. Made in Devon, the rational forms and intelligent detailing will help the designs stand the test of time and fluctuating taste.

In one of the smaller cells computer whizzes Neutral flew the flag for the many digital and graphic design agencies based in the area. Three screens projected views from a virtual reality elevator that climbed gradually through the levels of an imagined future metropolis. Neutral deals with integrated communication design and technology solutions that help brands, architects and public and private organisations present information in innovative ways. This installation was a fine example of their ability to tell stories using realistic computer-aided rendering techniques.

Rad Gallery at the House of Detention

Familiar names including Timorous Beasties, Lizzie Mary Cullen and Thorsten Van Elten lent added weight to the presentation at the House of Detention and helped to highlight the diversity of creative talent working in the area. The expansion to a second location was an ambitious and welcome initiative but next year the organisers might want to look around for a venue that doesn’t damage the furniture.