Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is just around the corner, boasting its biggest programme to date. Its 14th edition will see a total of 10 exhibition venues presenting more than 300 design brands, designers and makers for its swarm of visitors.

This year, Morag Myerscough will open the festival’s talks programme, Conversations at Clerkenwell, in Spa Fields on Tuesday 23 May at 11:00am. A London-based artist, Morag’s practice is cultivated by how colour, pattern and words can change urban environments and peoples perceptions of spaces into places.

Later planned to speak with Bethan Ryder, Editorial Director of WGSN, Morag will delve into her unique approach to transforming places and championing community through joyful installations and artworks.

Alongside her timetabled talks, Morag is creating a freestanding installation using the products of sustainable acoustics specialist, BAUX. Designed by its in-house team along with Form Us With Love, this exhibition highlights the work of eight students from Scandinavia’s most exceptional architectural institutions. Their design concepts will be presented through scale models and renders at the festival - all responding to the question of how the buildings of tomorrow can nurture productivity, wellness and creativity.

So without further ado, here are Morag’s CDW top picks…

Acoustics

Post pandemic, a growing need for multifunctional and multi-zone workplaces, paired with an awareness to the health implications of poor acoustically designed spaces has seen a rise in the number of acoustic booths arriving to market.

A host of showrooms are set to showcase some of the latest developments yet in this particular product category; from Loook Industries’ neuron activation pod, to Actiu’s QYOS acoustic pod. An additional to keep you eyes peeled for is Askia’s Kameleon acoustic pod. It ensures to be as consumer friendly as possible, with air inside being ionized and filtered. They use antimicrobial paint for all metal parts and antimicrobial surfaces for table tops.

Meanwhile, situated just outside Design Fields, Texaa will present its Vibrasto flexible acoustic cladding that can be stretch-fitted to walls, ceilings or furniture – alongside its Stereo acoustic panels and Stereo Air open mesh panels.

London-based Soundtect crafts acoustic panels from recycled fibres obtained from its parent company’s exhibition flooring. During CDW, its showroom on Albemarle Way will focus on its latest innovation, Acoura – a lightweight ceiling system manufactured from 70% recycled PET. Acoura is available in 24 colours, in a range of widths and depths. AllSfär – another UK-based acoustic expert specialising in products made with at least 60% recycled PET, will exhibit its new wall surface - Fika.

Workplace

Material Source studio partner, NaughtOne will launch its Ever chair and sofas in their Bakers Yard showroom. Designed by Ric Frampton, with circularity at the forefront of his design thinking, Ever can be returned to NaughtOne via its take-back programme at the end of its product life, while its responsibly sourced materials can also be easily separated for recycling.

State-of-the-art German furniture manufacturer, Brunner will display its new Boards collection by Osko + Deichmann on Rosebury Avenue. The collection consists of a carefully crafted cluster of light whiteboards and rolling stools, complete with clever cut-outs to work and standing tables with mounting options. Able to get up close to these recently released pieces at Material Source Studio, Manchester - we can vouch for the limitless flexibility, creative brainstorming and collaborative working it brings to any workplace scheme.

Next up in the realm of German contract furniture, Aeris will debut its Numo Task chair at CDW. The patented, self-adjusting motion element in the base of the chair ensures the same comfortable deflection to all sides. A wide range of movement is ensured by the kinematic technology underneath the seat shell.

The British manufacturer, Deadgood will introduce its latest coffee table range in collaboration with interior design practice, Trifle*. Named Chonk, the collection boasts high sustainability credentials, using a minimum of 85% recycled steel and is fully recyclable product.

Situated on Northburgh Street, Lintex bring a heightened sense of mobility and flexibility to the workplace within their new product launch. The Swedish company will showcase a series of recently released mobile glass writing boards, including Mood Fabric and Frame – designed by Halleröd and Matti Klenell. Lintex are known for their writable surfaces made from a variety of materials such as; tempered glass, textiles, solid wood and enamelled steel.

Further workplace pioneering pieces to keep your eye on is Netherlands-based company, Vepa’s Felt seating. Made from PET plastic bottles fished from the Amsterdam canals, the felt range is available in an extensive colour series. During CDW, Vepa is due to open its brand-new showroom and all important sustainability education centre on Gee Street.

Contract Furniture

One of Britain’s most celebrated designers, Robin Day is to work in collaboration with Case to launch the iconic Forum sofa and armchair. Originally designed in 1964 by Day, both pieces have been brought back into production by the furniture maker – thanks to the close partnership between Case and the Lucienne Day Foundation. Forum will be exhibited in architect Amin Taha’s Groupwork studio on Clerkenwell Close, alongside celebrated contemporary classics by Matthew Hilton and Terence Woodgate.

In support of CDW for many years, Arper will debut its Ralik modular system by Japanese designer, Ichiro Iwasaki, in its Clerkenwell Road showroom. Suitable for both commercial and residential schemes, the brand-new design comprises ottomans, benches, and sofas with backrests – which can be used individually or together to create different configurations.

Also returning to the festival this May is Fredericia. In its Dufferin Street showroom, the Danish, family-owned business will display its Savannah sofa and chair collection, on top of its Børge Mogensen-designed J39 chair in new colour-ways. The palette is inspired by the late designer’s country home and studio in Lynderup, Denmark.

Surfaces and Textiles

Parkside showcase design-led, sustainable surfaces for the built environment at this year’s CDW. Sequel presents recycled composite tile consisting of over 91% recycled content. The factory use unwanted materials from ceramic and glass industry to create this range, while all of the recycled materials are locally sourced in Spain - with every square metre of the tile diverting 8kg of waste from landfill.

On the topic of recycled content, Netherlands-based BLOQ produces high-performance carpet tiles that consist of 45% recycled materials. New to Clerkenwell Design Week, the three-year-old company will showcase its latest collections in its Goswell Road showroom, including collections; The Textured and The Create.

Yorkshire-based textile specialist Camira will launch Revolution - a recycled wool fabric made from its own waste yarn. A closed-loop product, Revolution is the first fabric to be created using iinouiio – the textile recycling capability recently acquired by Camira – at its manufacturing sites. To mark the launch at CDW, Camira has also commissioned waste textile artist, Sandra Junele, to create four pieces of artwork using textile surplus for its showroom in Brewhouse Yard.

Premium performance fabrics brand, Ultrafabrics – the leading producer of high-quality in its field celebrates its Colour of the Year collaboration with PANTONE. This will feature custom palettes and refreshes of the brand’s Uf Select Montage and Brisa collections;

Wood specialist Schotten & Hansen will preview its new colour veneer collection – developed by its founder, Torben Hansen – exclusively at CDW. This one-of-a-kind range sees the wood being cleaned deep into its pores– which significantly reduces substances within the timber that are known to make wood sensitive to staining and yellowing. Colours have been chosen in collaboration with the NCS Colour System.

For more information on Clerkenwell’s line up of must-visit showrooms and events, click here