Last week, Amy and Phoebe headed into the heart of London for a brilliantly busy day at Clerkenwell Design Week – one of the highlights of the commercial interiors calendar and always a great opportunity to reconnect with the brands, products and ideas shaping the future of workplace design.
It was a packed day from start to finish, with the aim of fitting in as many showrooms and exhibitions as possible while also sourcing some very specific elements for ongoing and future Wylde projects along the way. The day began in the ‘Flooring’ area with a visit to our long-time suppliers and friends at ArtworksUK, who had created an incredibly fun and energetic showroom experience to showcase their Alto Loop range. With music pumping, funky lighting throughout and a real buzz in the space, the atmosphere felt more nightclub than showroom – in the best possible way! Amy and Phoebe said they felt like kids in a sweetshop, fully immersed in the space and able to get hands-on creating their own mood-boards using the huge range of samples on display. It was brilliant to see so many finishes and combinations brought together in one place, and it definitely sparked plenty of ideas for future schemes.
From there, the day continued into the Bathrooms & Tiles area, where the hunt for project inspiration became unexpectedly productive. Amongst the beautifully curated showrooms and displays, the team managed to track down a particularly elusive product – copper flush plates – which felt like a genuine design victory! Wandering through the streets of Clerkenwell between installations, exhibitions and street artwork was equally inspiring in itself, with the whole area feeling full of creativity and energy throughout the festival.
Naturally, the next stop had to be Verco. We made a huge point of visiting the showroom; a space designed by Wylde and one we’re especially proud of, particularly given the incredibly short turnaround involved in bringing it to life. Seeing the showroom buzzing throughout the festival was a real moment for the team. The space looked fantastic in action, with the Verco teapoint proving a particular highlight, and it was brilliant to see the latest product ranges being used and experienced exactly as intended which is something that always brings a project full circle for us.
Next up was Senator, who true to form – delivered an exceptional lunch experience alongside their latest workplace solutions. Beyond the food, we also managed to use of one of their meeting pods for a quick meeting mid-afternoon. Efficient, comfortable and surprisingly calming amidst the festival buzz, it was a great reminder of how well-designed workplace products genuinely support the way we work day to day.
One of the best things about Clerkenwell Design Week is discovering the products and materials you didn’t know you needed until you see them in person. From commercial interiors and timber flooring to power module innovations and emerging independent brands, there was plenty to explore throughout the marquees. One standout for us was magnetic timber flooring – a clever, flexible solution that immediately sparked ideas for future projects. You know we love innovation, especially when it can be seamlessly integrated into practical workplace design. We were also particularly impressed by The British Collection; it’s always encouraging to see beautifully crafted, homegrown products and design talent being championed on such a prominent stage.
Later in the afternoon, the lighting exhibitions drew us in, with a huge variety of creative lighting solutions and applications on display and yes, we left feeling thoroughly illuminated. (Ahem sorry.) As we wandered back through Clerkenwell, we stopped into several more furniture showrooms including long-standing favourites Boss, Bolon and NaughtOne, while also discovering a new Spanish brand, Forma5, which definitely caught our attention.
As always, Clerkenwell Design Week delivered a fantastic mix of inspiration, innovation and conversation. Days like these are invaluable for keeping us connected to the evolving workplace landscape discovering new materials, revisiting trusted suppliers and finding fresh ideas that will shape both current and future projects. A brilliant day out for the team, and plenty of inspiration brought back to the studio.
Enjoy our photo gallery of epic proportions from this year!
