Clerkenwell mix

In London’s Clerkenwell you can’t turn a corner without bumping into a design showroom, studio or practitioner. So the new Clerkenwell Design Week – ’a three-day festival in London’s creative heart’ – makes perfect sense, and its mix of events and installation looks promising.

From 25 May, designers will present their new collections, showrooms will be vying for visitors – Vitra is showing films by Charles and Ray Eames, while Forbo is hosting a photography competition and exhibition, for example – and brands will launch new products, such as Boss Design with its Kruze Lounge chair. Installations include Forest of Lights, a set of giant floor lamps featuring new work from illustrators and graphic artists such as James Lambert, Joel Holland and local graphic design house Picture.

Jonathan Batten is installing Sound Flowers, multimedia sculptures inspired by the medieval architecture of St John’s Gate and the musical performances happening throughout the festival, and Tracey Neuls is collaborating with Moroso designers Tord Boontje and Patricia Urquiola to create limited-edition shoes for the festival.

A series of debates and seminars is taking place, such as The Fake Debate on copycat products and Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, a seminar exploring the ’cradle-to-cradle’ approach to product design. New broadsheet paper the Clerkenwell Other, designed by Fabian Monheim, will launch during the week, showing off some historic fonts, decorations, dingbats, images and cartoons.
Food for thought, as well as inspiration and a bit of fun – should be three days worth earmarking.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2010 is on at various venues in Clerkenwell, London from 25-27 May