Clerkenwell Design Week 2014 - Day Two

Recapturing the elegance and detail of traditional engraving, the unique Flying Carpet project by Maryam Golubeva has been a very visible aspect of this year’s design week. The public artwork project is inspired by Ottoman carpets and Islamic art and has been designed to be interactive, with visitors encouraged to touch it, sit on it and even cut out their own sections of with scissors. A fantastic example of art engaging its audience in a physical way, while also demonstrating the timeless quality of intricate patterns and handcrafted design. 

Over at Platform, showcasing some of the most innovative and unique new design and interiors companies in a subterranean setting, there are plenty of intriguing items on display, from the handcrafted wooden furniture of Robert Scott to the concrete and vermiculite lighting of Felix Proctor. But keeping with CDW2014’s standout themes of colour and texture, A Rum Fellow’s beautiful hand-woven fabrics are among the star attractions among the new exhibitors, with tribal-inspired designs creating a riot of bright and bold patterns.

Down in the crypt, the elegance of Loïc Bard’s tables is a highlight, with a pleasing mixture of materials, with smooth, white gloss porcelain combined with natural wood and flashes of pastel neon shades. A fantastic example of simplicity and function combined.

Combinations of textures are also evident throughout Clerkenwell in 2014, with Kendall’s wall coverings also elegantly demonstrating a clever balance of colour, stitched texture and structure. Her work also explores themes of discovery and travel, manipulating the incredible detail of a variety of maps.

Injections of colour are a key trend on display at this year’s festival and the bright and bold wallpapers by Tracy Kendall really stand out as you enter the exhibition space.

Nestled within the church, crypt and cloisters that make up the historic Order of St John, Detail brings together an inspiring selection of designers and brands within a breathtaking setting. It was our first stop on day two and offered plenty of captivating sights. 

As the sun shone once more for Clerkenwell Design Week, our design team continued to explore what this year’s festival had to offer. CDW offers a myriad of delights to capture the imagination and there is something new around almost every corner. It is also an essential date in the calendar for those keen to scope out the key future trends in design and discover some of the brightest new talent in the industry. Here are some of the standout exhibits that caught our team’s attention on day two…