Clerkenwell Design Week will return to London's EC1 from 20th-22nd May 2025 for its 14th edition.
The event is set to 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.
As ever, the 2025 edition will feature a myriad curated events spanning more than 16 venues and 160 local design showrooms throughout Clerkenwell.
“We’re thrilled to be back in Clerkenwell this May with our largest programme yet, both in scale and content,” says Marlon Cera-Marle, Design Division Director at Media 10, the organiser of the annual design festival.
“The new venues, including some of London's most historic landmarks, will provide a stunning backdrop for presenting some of the world’s most exciting design brands. We’re also partnering with incredible international names, from country pavilions to leading media outlets from the UK and US.”
The Charterhouse and Charterhouse Square – featuring Alex Chinneck’s flagship installation
The Charterhouse will serve as a striking backdrop for contemporary furniture, decorative lighting and luxury finishes. It will feature an array of global bathroom brands, from Geberit and Toto to Bette, C.P. Hart and Victoria and Albert Baths. Also joining them will be British fabric and wallpaper company Colefax and Fowler.
In addition to design brands, the venue will host Conversations at Clerkenwell, the festival’s official talks series. For 2025, the talks will take place in a theatre designed by the London-based design studio Kapitza. Curated by PR and Brand Consultant Katie Richardson, the series will include conversations with leading and emerging designers, and as always, will cover the topics of the day, with the full programme to be announced in the spring.
Outside, Charterhouse Square will showcase products for outdoor living and hospitality, alongside Alex Chinneck’s new sculpture.
Studio Smithfield
A 27,000-square-foot Grade II* listed building above Smithfield Market, Studio Smithfield is a new creative event space and will be home to commercial and workplace interior brands during CDW, including Houzz Pro and Bandalux.
Church of Design
Set within St Bartholomew the Great, a 900-year-old Grade I listed medieval church, Church of Design will offer a breathtaking setting for modern design showcases. Exhibitors will include French interiors specialist Roche Bobois. Meanwhile, new to this year’s edition, CDW has partnered with Sandow, the US-based publisher of Interior Design, Design Milk and Metropolis. As part of this collaboration, Sandow will host design conversations, Design Dialogue by Sandow, inside the church throughout the festival. In the lead-up to the event, the publisher has launched its first-ever CDW Product Awards, celebrating the most innovative and visionary products shaping the future of design. Submissions are now open.
RETURNING VENUES
In addition to the new venues, existing locations will house a variety of product-focused exhibitions, including:
● Clerkenwell Green and Installations – Structural stone will take centre stage in the recently refurbished Clerkenwell Green, where Albion Stone and Hutton Stone will reveal a special new commission by Hawkins\Brown, demonstrating the durability and beauty of British stone bricks. Nearby, the ambitious Stone Tapestry structure by the Stone Federation will be featured, along with showcases from exhibitors specialising in contract and workplace interior products and solutions.
● Project – Focused on contract furniture and surface design.
● Design Fields – Showcasing contemporary furniture, lighting and product design with an international focus. The Design Meets talks series will also return, inviting representatives from trade bodies and associations to engage in a range of intimate, industry-led discussions.
● Light – Home to global lighting companies. Darc Thoughts, Darc’s talks series, will also return.
● Elements – Dedicated to architectural hardware and finishes.
● British Collection – Taking over the whole of St James’s Church again and highlighting the best British design talent and brands.
● Detail – Featuring luxury interiors.
● Platform – Spotlighting emerging design talent and companies.
● Ceramics of Italy – Hosting Italian ceramic and porcelain tile brands at VaynerMedia’s headquarters on St John’s Square. This exhibition is organised by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Ceramics Association of Italy.
● Old Sessions House – Home to brand activations, presentations and the festival hub (free access for CDW visitors, 20 – 22 May).
● The Goldsmiths’ Centre – Presenting products for commercial and workplace interiors.
● Cowcross Pavilions and Brewhouse Yard – Both presenting leading commercial interiors from the UK and abroad.
