DCA visit Clerkenwell Design Week 2023
The DCA Design Team recently attended Clerkenwell Design Week in London, one of the UK’s leading independent design festivals. The annual event offered the opportunity for our designers to explore key trends, gather inspiration, and meet up-and-coming talent, as well as catching up with old friends, clients and colleagues.
With its varied mix of product design, furniture, accessories and textiles; Clerkenwell provided an insightful experience for all of the design team that attended. The broad range of exhibitions, show rooms and installations speak to current design trends and offered stimulus for ongoing and future projects.
A stand out exhibition for our design team was Dare Studio’s collection, which showcased thoughtfully crafted and contemporary pieces, with highly considered function and purpose. The pieces feel designed to make a statement without being dominant, offering a timeless yet modern design that would fit into many home interiors. In particular, the HENKA metamorphic chair delighted our team, as it transitioned from a chair to step stool in one easy pivot. In both states, the chair felt refined in proportion and detail, and ensured the design didn’t compromise on either function.
Similar to last year, Benchmark Furniture also caught the eye of the DCA design team. The AYA Collection focused on creating more from less within workspace furniture, producing beautifully restrained designs, with seamless barely-there joints and considered functionality. Benchmark also lead the way in their responsibility to sustainable design, launching the AYA collection with Life Cycle Analysis declarations, full carbon footprint labelling, a Lifetime Repair Service and a Take Back Scheme to encourage a circular design mindset.
The design team also always enjoys a trip to the Light exhibition, not least because it is held in a former Victorian prison with exposed brickwork, arching tunnels and old ironwork. The beautiful light installations showcased how simple use of material, patterns and colour can greatly alter light diffusion and ambience.
The day concluded with our annual social meetup, a great chance to share and download the sights of the day, and catch up with old colleagues, clients and friends. We look forward to attending next year.
