Get ready, design lovers – Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 is back and bolder than ever. Running from 20 to 22 May, this year’s edition is set to be the largest and most ambitious yet, taking over London’s EC1 with mind-bending installations, Scandi-chic launches, and a full programme of talks that puts Shoreditch’s trendiest panels to shame.
Let’s be honest – Clerkenwell doesn’t just “do design,” it practically lives and breathes it. And this year, the creative heartbeat of East London is dialling things up to eleven. Expect over 15 venues, 160+ local showrooms, and one giant open-air love letter to contemporary design, experimentation, and global culture.
Here’s a closer look at what not to miss.
Brick, Stone, and Steel: Monumental Installations Redefining the Urban Landscape
First up: Alex Chinneck’s new public sculpture in Charterhouse Square. If you remember the artist’s iconic “sliding house” in Margate, you’ll want to see what he’s been cooking up with bricks and salvaged steel this time. Expect something interactive, architectural, and more than a little mind-bending.
Meanwhile, over at Clerkenwell Green, Brick from a Stone: Arch Revival brings the drama with two nearly four-metre-high sandstone and Portland stone arches – proving, quite literally, that British stone can hold its own in a load-bearing showdown. Engineered with flair by Webb Yates and designed by Hawkins\Brown, it’s an ode to craft, heritage and structural showmanship.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Shaping Water design competition, hosted in partnership with Dezeen and Villeroy & Boch, promises a fluid, large-scale installation against the stunning historic backdrop of St John’s Gate. One winning designer will score a £5,000 prize and a £15,000 budget to bring their watery vision to life.
Scandi Style, Japanese Calm, and Modular Rugs: International Design Takes the Lead
2025’s Clerkenwell Design Week is a haven for Scandinavian design fans. You’ll find HAY’s latest at the MillerKnoll showroom (expect cool lines and clever details), and Muuto lighting up St John’s Square with new Beam and Strand table lamps. Then head over to Mater, where tech meets sustainability in a new lighting collection crafted from Matek™, their patented material combining e-waste and coffee shell waste. Yes, that’s the level we’re playing at.
Over at Old Sessions House, String Furniture makes its festival debut with its instantly Instagrammable shelving, and Kasthall celebrates 135 years with fresh takes on the legendary Goose Eye pattern.
For those craving colour and texture, Bolon’s outdoor rugs will bring contemporary edge to any space, while Zitozza’s block-by-block printed rugs and fabrics channel maximalist energy with modular flair.
Japanese Teaware Meets British Silversmithing
On St John Street, Newby London and the Goldsmiths’ Centre team up for a gorgeous exhibition exploring contemporary teaware. New Forms: Tea & Contemporary Design features master silversmiths and ceramicists reimagining the ancient ritual of tea. With pieces by Abigail Brown, Sasha Wardell, and Jeremy Nichols, the show is a tranquil counterpoint to the industrial buzz outside.
And yes, the tea is as rare as the craftsmanship – so don’t just look, sip.
Conversations at Clerkenwell: Colour, AI, and the Future of Design
The beloved Conversations at Clerkenwell series returns, this time at The Charterhouse, with a killer speaker lineup including Sabine Marcelis and PearsonLloyd. Curated by brand consultant Katie Richardson, the talks dive into everything from colour psychology and commercial interiors to AI’s role in design. Three sessions a day are hosted by Dezeen, making this a hot ticket for anyone wanting insight from the industry’s sharpest minds.
Bonus: The striking Kapitza-designed auditorium will reflect the venue’s historic patterns with bold contemporary twists. A visual treat and a cerebral one.
The Global Design Scene Comes to London
New for 2025, the festival expands with Austrian and Spanish Collections joining the ever-popular Danish, German, and Italian showcases. You’ll find design-forward offerings from Naturtex, Mafi, Viccarbe, and many more – turning Clerkenwell into a true international crossroads for cutting-edge interiors, furniture, and architectural innovation.
Bonus Highlights: Kitchens, Wallcoverings, and Italgraniti’s Mystery Project
In the British Collection, Pluck x Schotten & Hansen unveil a dream-worthy kitchen range in four colourways, while Origin Furniture presents tech-knit steel-framed seating by David Irwin. Head to The Charterhouse to explore Larsen’s wallcoverings and high-performance textiles.
And keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious Italgraniti x Simon Astridge project, Automatica. Details are under wraps for now, but trust us – it’s going to be worth the reveal.
Shoreditch Vibes, Clerkenwell Heart
While Shoreditch might be better known for its neon bars and ironic moustaches, Clerkenwell Design Week proves that East London has a serious design soul. Across every showroom, installation, and conversation, CDW 2025 pulses with curiosity, community, and craftsmanship.
So mark your calendar. Whether you’re there for the archways or the teapots, the rugs or the roundtables, one thing’s for sure: Clerkenwell will be the capital of design this May.
