Clerkenwell Design Week Awards 2026: Recognizing Design Excellence and Innovation

The annual Clerkenwell Design Week Awards, proudly partnered with Design Milk, serve as a beacon, recognizing unparalleled innovation and creativity within the UK's vibrant design landscape. These awards not only spotlight groundbreaking products but also celebrate the visionary minds shaping the future of design in London. The diverse categories honor achievements ranging from exceptional craftsmanship to pioneering material advancements, inclusive design principles, and environmental stewardship, underscoring a holistic approach to design excellence.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2026: A Celebration of Innovation

On May 20, 2026, the Clerkenwell Design Week Awards, sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council, honored a remarkable cohort of designers and products. This year's event showcased a profound commitment to pushing the boundaries of design, fostering inclusivity, and promoting sustainability across various sectors.

Best of Clerkenwell & Craftsmanship: The prestigious "Best of Clerkenwell" award, alongside "Best Craftsmanship," was presented to the Woodbender Scoop 33 Chair. Designed by Jordan Bailiff, this elegant piece features 33 meticulously crafted steam-bent timber sections, offering both sculptural beauty and ergonomic comfort. Its design epitomizes honesty, elegance, and enduring craftsmanship. A notable finalist in craftsmanship was the Dovetailors Flow Chair.

Material Innovation: The "Best Material Innovation" award recognized Cosentino's Éclos, a revolutionary mineral surface. Éclos stands out for its zero crystalline silica content, significant recycled material inclusion, and patented through-body veining technology, delivering a realistic aesthetic and natural tactile experience. Andreu World's BIOThermopolymer was also acknowledged as a finalist.

Environmental Excellence: In the "Best for the Planet" category, the Andreu World Bolete Armchair, conceived by Patricia Urquiola, triumphed. Celebrated for its ergonomic design and expansive width, the Bolete Armchair's upholstery is meticulously applied to a 100% recycled and recyclable Pure ECO® thermopolymer shell, highlighting a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. Herman Miller's Bound Sit-Stand Desking was a worthy finalist.

Inclusive Design: One Bite Design Studio received the "Most Inclusive Design" award for "The Fountain of Technicolour Beads." This collaborative installation, created with Leigei Stone, transformed Clerkenwell Green into a vibrant sensory experience, advocating for inclusivity in design by raising awareness about Color Vision Deficiency (CVD). Herman Miller's Bound Sit-Stand Desking also earned recognition as a finalist.

Healthcare Product: The "Best Product for Healthcare" award went to Interface's Noravant Timber. This PVC-free resilient flooring combines high performance with aesthetic flexibility and enhanced sustainability. Available in ten soothing, wood-inspired colors, it provides comfort and durability for healthcare environments.

Home Product: For the "Best Product for Homes" category, the Knoll International Morrison Hannah Chair was honored. This updated 1973 seating design by Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah is adapted for contemporary hybrid living and working, offering versatile style with contrasting or monochromatic options. The Corston Architectural Detail Cotswold Lighting Collection was a finalist.

Workplace Product: The "Best Product for Workplaces" award celebrated the Andreu World Velo Chair, designed by Benjamin Hubert. This lightweight, ergonomic chair caters to the evolving needs of flexible workspaces, offering effortless movement support without requiring manual adjustments. Its intuitive design facilitates dynamic work postures.

Accessories: Corston Architectural Detail's Premium Hardware, designed by David Gray and James Duffy, was recognized for its beautifully engineered spring lever handles, combining elegant aesthetics with a patented self-returning mechanism for superior performance.

Acoustics: Acoufelt's Skipping Stones Ceiling Clouds won for their sculptural acoustic forms, which impressed the judges by transforming sound control into an expressive architectural statement, inspired by stones skipping across water.

Bath Fixtures: C.P. Hart's Slide, designed by Fima, took home the award for its innovative tap system. It replaces the traditional lever with a smooth horizontal movement, offering both elegance and ergonomic functionality. Dornbracht COYA was a finalist.

Carpet and Rugs: The Shaw Contract Poetic Form Carpet Tile Collection was honored for its blend of texture, metallic accents, and elegant forms, inspired by poetry and geometry, while also minimizing embodied carbon. Ege Carpets Matter by Snøhetta was a finalist.

Cladding & Surfaces: Ecoscape UK Ltd Forma Click Cladding received recognition for its composite profiles that click into a Grad aluminium rail substructure, providing a clean, fixing-free wall covering that significantly reduces installation time. It is suitable for diverse wall and ceiling constructions.

Commercial Furniture: Arper's Aom, lauded for its minimalist and unconventional design, effortlessly adapts to various contexts. Its innovative glueless construction ensures circularity. Teknion Aarea was a finalist.

Hard Flooring: Parador's Harmonia Collection won for its beautifully textured engineered wood, inspired by nature and modernist architecture. Each of its seven surfaces draws inspiration from natural textures like grain, stone, and bark. Shaw Contract EcoWorx Resilient Flooring Art + Science was a finalist.

Lighting: The Chelsom Groove Reading Light was awarded for its compact design, ideal for hospitality interiors. Designed by Will Chelsom and James Bartlett, it combines precision engineering with elegant architectural detailing. Nordlux Akeno Pendant was a finalist.

Residential Furniture: The Leandesk, a folding sit-stand desk, was celebrated for its infinite adjustability in height and angle, allowing users to work comfortably both sitting and standing. Crafted from sustainable materials, it folds to a mere 50mm for convenient storage.

Technology: Yellowbox Global's Smart Locker System was recognized as a leading solution for modern workplaces. Its user-friendly app, seamless integration with workplace software, and touchscreen access make locker management effortless.

Interior Designer of the Year: Asia Miari of Kettle Collective, a Milanese interior designer with extensive international experience, was honored for her projects that consistently demonstrate emotional sensitivity, material richness, and a focus on calm, connection, and human experience.

Product Designer of the Year: Kerry Deffley, Design Manager at Shaw Contract EMEA, received this award for her 20 years of experience in commercial interior design. Her customer-driven approach and deep understanding of manufacturing processes, exemplified by her 2025 Creative Connections carpet tile collection, blend craft-inspired vision with contemporary design.

Studio of the Year: Perkins&Will London was named Studio of the Year. This global collective of designers is dedicated to creating spaces that foster humanity and harmony with nature. The London studio, with its 199 members, is renowned for its functional, beautiful, and sustainable designs, achieved through a collaborative process. The studio also provides pro bono services to non-profits, addressing critical needs in affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, and education, aiming for positive social and environmental impacts in every project.

The Clerkenwell Design Week Awards consistently highlight the ingenuity and dedication within the design community. This year's honorees, through their diverse and impactful contributions, exemplify a forward-thinking approach that integrates aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. Their work not only enriches our environments but also inspires future generations of designers to create spaces and products that cater to human needs while respecting our planet. As we look ahead, the innovations celebrated here will undoubtedly influence the trajectory of global design, fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and beautifully crafted world.