Clerkenwell Design Week 2026

The design team at DCA enjoyed their 12th consecutive year at Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, the UK’s leading design festival, indulging on the latest contemporary design set against Clerkenwell’s rich network of architectural heritage and distinctive urban landscape.

Clerkenwell is renowned as one of the most compelling design hubs in the world, and this year’s festival offered a striking insight into the evolution of design, with a clear focus on material innovation, tactile environments and circular systems, encouraging dialogue between design, technology, and the future of sustainable thinking.

The LIGHT installation at the House of Detention is arguably the most atmospheric and conceptually rich exhibition spaces. Very much a standout for the DCA team, lighting across the exhibition was presented as an emotionally expressive design element to create ambience within a space, converging technical precision with emotional and spatial impact.

Studio Haran featured their sculptural light ‘Sandscape’ which encapsulates the beauty of the Cornish coastline by 3D scanning tidal sands and machining the texture out of solid oak and ceramic, showcasing a fusion of digital manufacture and hand craft to preserve organic intricacy.

British designer Tom Raffield further explored naturality in design through sculptural pieces inspired by lunar constellation, crafted using steam-bent sustainably sourced timber. The work plays with light refraction to cast a vivid radiance onto surrounding surfaces.

Spark & Bell translated their passion for sustainable materials into an opulent, purpose-led statement piece, repurposing discarded CD cases to create the ‘Seraphin’ chandelier. The installation casts light through a cascading arrangement of crystalline forms, transforming reclaimed material into a richly layered illumination experience.

The grand Georgian interior of the Old Sessions House served as a dynamic venue for design installations at Clerkenwell. The layered materiality and evocative spaces provide a striking contrast to the contemporary work exhibited within.

Naomi Paul presented a tactile and materially rich lighting installation at Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, combining woven craftsmanship with sculptural form to create softly illuminated pieces that emphasised texture, warmth and atmosphere. Reflecting Clerkenwell’s wider emphasis on sensory design and material authenticity, the work demonstrated a clear movement towards lighting that prioritises emotional experience and artisanal craft.

Italian furniture company Pointhouse reinforced Clerkenwell’s themes of material refinement and human centred design at their installation. The pieces combined clean architectural forms with a strong emphasis on adaptability and everyday functionality. The installation reflected a refined approach to modern living, showcasing lightweight seating and table systems designed to balance visual simplicity with practical versatility.

Highlighting local brands, the British Collection is situated in the immersive St James’s Church and showcases newly developed home-grown design.

Hitch Mylius showcased a refined exploration of emergent upholstered furniture grounded by over five decades of British manufacturing expertise. position as a manufacturer focused on enduring quality quietly confident design with delicately considered CMF execution supporting purity of form rather than distraction.

Dovetailors positioned themselves within a broader dialogue around skilled production, adaptability and design education through their presentation of furniture pieces. A strong focus on craftsmanship, modular design thinking and scalable production, underpinned by clearly resolved furniture systems developed through in-house prototyping and CNC-led manufacturing process was clearly evident at the installation.

Christopher Wall presented a compelling exploration of materiality through his scagliola ornamental pieces, showcasing a traditional technique that imitates natural marble while introducing bold colour palettes and a refreshing approach to material experimentation.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 reflected a clear emphasis on sustainable thinking, craftsmanship and visionary innovation. Across the festival, the creative reuse of materials emerged as a defining theme, from lighting constructed with recycled CDs to textiles developed from post-consumer waste. Alongside this, there was a renewed prominence of artisanal techniques and hand-crafted process, celebrating the value of making and material authenticity.

The ongoing integration of smart technologies with eco-conscious materials further reinforced the industry’s transition towards circular design principles and lower-impact production. Overall, the festival presented a vibrant and considered snapshot of where design is heading in the future.

Our annual social gathering once again provided an ideal opportunity to unwind, reflect on the key highlights, and reconnect with colleagues, clients and long-standing friends. We look forward to returning next year with anticipation, ready to re-engage and draw inspiration from everything Clerkenwell Design Week has to offer.