We were thrilled to experience the first Clerkenwell Design Week in 2 years. We spent a day exploring the showrooms, and these are some of our take-aways and highlights.
Domestication of the Office
There has been an on going movement towards the office being more 'relaxed' and 'comfortable'. This trend has been rapidly accelerated in the past few years by the impact of Covid. More people are working from home. Therefore, the workspace has been exploring how it can appeal more to it's employees to improve their overall well-being whilst at work. This element was very apparent within Clerkenwell, with the emergence of more soft furnishings and products taking a less industrial appearance.
Nature is Moving In
Another feature that has been becoming more and more prevalent within the Clerkenwell Design community is the use of flora within the office. Biophilia is a commonly used term within this field of design. It simply suggests that we humans have an innate connection and tendency to seek nature. With this in mind, plants are 'growing' in popularity. The health benefits are being incorporated more into further promoting employee well-being, and they are seen to further office domestication.
The Integration of Power
Another feature that has become more and more prevalent within the Clerkenwell Design community is the use of flora within the office. Biophilia is a commonly used term within this field of design. It simply suggests that we humans have an innate connection and tendency to seek nature. With this in mind, plants are 'growing' in popularity. The health benefits are being incorporated more into further promoting employee well-being, and they are seen to further office domestication.
Acoustics in the Workplace
With more people migrating back to the office, there is an increasing need for sound damping. More people means more sound. Many office spaces are sizeable, open plan environments in an industrial style, which results in sound quickly bouncing off hard surfaces. Because of this, more acoustic products have been appearing within the market. The majority of the acoustic items are designed to dampen sound; they can often be found as wall installations.
Material Usage
As with all fields of design, the environment and sustainability are hot topics. However, this Clerkenwell, we took an alternative approach. Instead, we focused on material usage. We were interested in exploring how products utilised lessor different materials to achieve an equally successful outcome. One example of this was the Andre World Nuez chair, which boasts a 100% recycled shell. This is a brilliant example of where recycled materials and contemporary design meet. We were delighted to see the increased importance placed on more than just the immediate environmental benefits to sustainability. Companies also took positive steps to understand the product's life cycle and, ideally, rebirth.