Clerkenwell Design Week 2025

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Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) announces its return to London’s EC1 from 20–22 May 2025 for its 14th edition as a leading global design festival. This year’s event will be the largest yet, introducing three new exhibition venues. Among them are the historic medieval and Tudor buildings of The Charterhouse and Charterhouse Square, which will host artist Alex Chinneck’s major new public artwork; the capital’s oldest parish church, St Bartholomew the Great; and Studio Smithfield, a Grade II* listed building above the iconic Smithfield Market in the heart of the Culture Mile. These additions will form a vibrant and bustling new southern district for the festival.

The 2025 edition will feature a myriad of curated events throughout Clerkenwell. Visitors can explore an impressive lineup of international exhibitors and cutting-edge products showcased across 16+ venues and 160+ local design showrooms.

BRICK AND WATER INSTALLATIONS
Leading this year’s festival is a major new public artwork by British artist Alex Chinneck, set in Charterhouse Square. This special commission marks Chinneck’s return to sculpting with brick and playing with architectural elevations.

Meanwhile, Albion Stone and Hutton Stone return to Clerkenwell Green with an ambitious pavilion designed by HawkinsBrown and engineered by Webb Yates. Titled Brick from a Stone: Arch Revival, the pavilion features a striking pair of nearly four-metre-high freestanding vaulted arches, championing the strength and beauty of British stone bricks.

For the first time, CDW is partnering with Dezeen to launch a design contest as part of the festival programme. In collaboration with Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard, the Shaping Water competition invites architects and designers to create a large-scale installation celebrating the essence of water, set against the historic backdrop of St John’s Gate of the Order of St John. The winner will receive a £5,000 prize and a £15,000 budget to realise their design for the festival.

CONVERSATIONS AT CLERKENWELL
The festival’s official talks series, Conversations at Clerkenwell, returns with a stellar lineup of speakers, including Sabine Marcelis and PearsonLloyd. Curated by PR and brand consultant Katie Richardson, the talks will take place at The Charterhouse for the first time, featuring 18 live sessions over three days, including three daily sessions curated and hosted by Dezeen. Topics will range from colour and interior trends to heritage renewal, commercial space design, and AI in design.
This year’s auditorium, designed by Kapitza, takes inspiration from the rich history of patterns and ornaments adorning the venue’s walls and ceilings. The London-based studio is known for its colourful public art installations for British Land, wayfinding designs for the Royal London Hospital, and public and leisure architecture projects.

SCANDI DESIGN LEADS INTERNATIONAL LINEUP
Major Scandinavian brands take the spotlight this year, bringing fresh designs and innovation to the festival.
HAY will showcase its latest collections
String Furniture will make its CDW debut with its newest pieces at Old Sessions House
Muuto will introduce its new Beam and Strand table lamps
Bolon on Northburgh Street will be showing its outdoor rug collection