Clerkenwell Design Week 2018: 6 Office Interior Design Trends

Clerkenwell Design Week is the UK’s leading independent design festival, attracting thousands of visitors each year. With so many exciting new designs on display, we couldn’t miss out on the chance to visit the 2018 show to catch up on the latest trends. Read on to discover the designs that caught the eye of our office interior designers and learn about the benefits they can bring to your business. Could they be making their way into your office soon? Alternative Materials This year we saw manufacturers stretching the possibilities of their designs through the use of alternative materials. One manufacturer, for example, displayed table tops made out of charred wood and shelves fashioned out of reclaimed industrial material. With striking designs like these, don’t be surprised to see more manufacturers embracing unique materials next year to stand out from the competition. Striking Lighting While there was an exceptional level of creative flair on display across the show, our office interior designers were particularly impressed by the standard of the lighting designs. The highlights included a stunning collection of filament lights with bespoke bulbs, pendant lamps with cascading aluminium shells, and chic LEDs with re-imagined cord structures. With so many impressive designs on show, designers face a tough challenge to outdo themselves at next year’s event. Acoustic Solutions We saw many manufacturers using materials with acoustic properties in a bid to combat workplace noise pollution. The standout designs included a glass fronted soundproof phone booth, a sound-absorbing meeting pod, and acoustic wall panels that could pass as works of modern art. These acoustic solutions highlight how design is evolving to tick the boxes for both style and practicality – a common theme at this year’s show. Vegan-Friendly Fabrics With 3.5 million people now identifying as vegan in the UK, it came as no surprise to see designers promoting fabrics as “vegan-friendly”. One designer stood out for their one-of-a-kind matte-finish fabric, which works as a great alternative to leather due to it being easy to clean. In addition to this, vegan-friendly fabrics like this are ideal if you’re looking to promote an eco-friendly attitude in your workplace. This is due to the fact that the leather industry has a reputation for a high carbon footprint, meaning you can considerably reduce your own carbon footprint by embracing an alternative material. Collaborative Office Furniture Solutions Shared desks and meeting pods were ubiquitous at Clerkenwell 2018, underlining how the demand for a collaborative workspace environment is influencing furniture design. Among the most interesting designs were a solid wood eight-seater table with integrated power, a beach hut themed meeting pod, and a three-way desk with privacy screens. For companies looking to boost productivity by improving communication between staff, furniture like this could offer the perfect solution Bringing the Outside in There were plenty of variations on the ‘Bringing the Outside in’ theme at Clerkenwell 2018, highlighting the growing popularity of workspace elements that reconnect us with nature. These included arresting hanging plant displays, lighting solutions made out of synthetic leaves, and carpets inspired by urban and natural pathways. With so many studies proving that reconnecting staff with nature can boost mental and physical wellbeing, it is little wonder that this trend has continued to evolve. Expect to see further developments at next year’s show. Until Next Year… It’s fair to say that Clerkenwell 2018 didn’t disappoint! From innovative concepts to stunning statement pieces, there was plenty on show to give our office interior designers food for thought. There is no doubt in our mind there will be even more exciting developments next year, so we’ll be sure to book our tickets. See you there!

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