Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 was a vibrant celebration of colour, creativity, and connection. This year, colour truly took centre stage - not just visually through captivating installations and product design, but also through rich, thoughtful conversations around neurodivergence, wellness, and the vital role colour plays in shaping inclusive and inspiring environments.
The YesColours team was out in full force, soaking up inspiration and connecting with some of the most exciting voices in design. Here are some of the standout moments for us:
Conran & Partners x Secto Design - 'The Essence of Finland'.
A standout collaboration that beautifully captured the spirit of Finnish nature, with its forests, lakes, and its distinct Nordic light. The installation explored the poetic relationship between Secto Design’s sculptural lighting and the natural world that inspires it. The partnership was celebrated with a compelling talk moderated by Elizabeth Choppin of Design Anthology UK, setting the tone for a strong opening day.
Image credit: Conran Partners x Secto Design.
Harmonic Tides by Mamou-Mani Architects.
One of the most photographed and talked-about installations of the week, Harmonic Tides was a hypnotic, 3D-printed structure suspended under the gothic arches of St John’s Gate. Inspired by the rhythm of water, sound, and light, it created a serene corridor of movement and innovation—blending sustainable architecture with a sensory design experience that felt both calming and otherworldly.
Image credit: Dezeen.
Johanson Design Showroom Launch x Trifle Creative - 'Layered in Colour'.
Johanson Design marked the launch of their colourful new London showroom with a standout panel discussion hosted by Emma Morley and featuring voices including Marianne Shillingford, Justine Fox, Ameche Mandi, and Nadia Themistocleous. The conversation centred on the emotional power of colour in workplace design, and how considered palettes can better support neurodiverse needs. The showroom itself was a vibrant, functional testament to Scandinavian design—clean lines, bold accents, and purposeful space planning.
String Furniture – 'A Masterclass in Modular Colour'.
Swedish brand 'String' once again demonstrated their expertise in modular shelving—but this year, their bold, confident use of colour took centre stage. Their displays showed how a well-considered palette can transform simple forms into expressive, character-rich interiors without losing clarity or utility.
Image credit: Spring Furniture.
YesColours x Tamart - 'Collate Form Workshop'.
Arguably one of the most talked-about moments of the week, the Collate Form Workshop, curated by the very talented, James Garis, who brought together a vibrant community of designers and makers to co-create in real-time. We at YesColours were proud to partner with Tamart on a bold installation that explored colour as a tool for storytelling and emotion in the workplace. An iconic brand with their red and yellow colour combination drew crowds daily - sparking conversations about the psychological impact of colour and its ability to energise, connect, and inspire.
Image credit: James Garis.
Alex Chinneck’s ‘A Week at the Knees’.
A showstopping design, where artist Alex Chinneck has designed, ‘A Week at the Knees’, a brick arch made from 7,000 bricks, mimicking the Georgian façades that surround it on Charterhouse Square. – but bending theatrically across a path – it invites visitors to walk through its surreal curve. ‘I wanted to create something that transcends the rigidity of the material,’ Chinneck told the gathered crowd at its launch. Although the event finishes on Thursday 22 May, this installation remains on show until early July.
Image credit: Charles Emerson and Marc Wilmot.
In the end, what makes Clerkenwell Design Week so special is the people: reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new ones, and sharing in the joy of colour and creativity with the wider design community. Until next year!