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How wonderful to have our design shows back in London this spring! Despite the changeable weather this week, we’ve been out and about to see what’s new and inspiring at Clerkenwell Design Week.

It was of no real surprise to see sustainability and wellness at the forefront across the exhibitions and showrooms this year. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, these topics have never been so important, as we strive to rebalance our time and re-establish new ways of living and working.

What was particularly refreshing was to see a far more holistic narrative, benefitting both people and planet harmoniously; from materials and colours that seek to protect and nurture, to spaces and forms that provide flexibility and comfort. The rise of the new holistic workplace focuses not just on the functional needs of the work environment, but on the psychological needs too.

So, let’s take a look at a few things that caught our eye…

Morphing Spaces 

There is a greater demand for workspaces to be even more flexible, with the ability to evolve over time, responding to changes in work patterns and behaviours. Multifunctional spatial dividers are redefining open-plan offices and homes; zoning areas for tasks or creating quick pop-up collaborative workspaces. Nature is increasingly incorporated into these flexible solutions, following the principles of biophilic design to support the wellbeing of workers by creating a visual connection to the natural environment.

Flexible Comfort

We are seeing an abundance of seating solutions that create more relaxed collaborative environments within workspaces. High-back sofas and chairs enable semi-enclosed spaces to be formed and reformed in any number of combinations, creating comfort and privacy reminiscent of working from home. Colours and finishes also echo residential environments; with softer fresher tones that are familiar and inviting. As the demand for more flexible workspaces continues, we expect to see more of these modular seating solutions replace traditional office layouts.

Monochrome Match

Monochrome blocking was present in many different forms throughout the festival, with distinctive contrast created through material differences and surface details; from fabric to metal, smooth to woven, hard to soft and surface to wall. The use of a single colour with simple geometric forms and precision details created a pleasing visual balance, resulting in bold statements pieces with inviting tactile touchpoints.

Neon Bold

Unapologetically bold, this collection of upcycled furniture felt at home at Fabric, the infamous London nightclub, and location of the POP Exhibition space. Featuring pieces from several different designers; contrasting neon colours against vintage wooden surfaces and fabrics created statement pieces with a story. A refreshing visual twist to many of the colour trends featured throughout the festival; this collection gives a warm sense of nostalgia whilst also optimism for the future. A good one to end on!

Since you are here, take a look at some of our work in the Consumer sector.