Turning heads at Clerkenwell

Each May, Clerkenwell Design Week transforms a corner of London into a living, breathing celebration of creativity, innovation and craft. With its cobbled streets and buzzing showrooms, it draws thousands of architects, interior designers, workspace planners, furniture makers and curious creatives – all looking to be inspired.

I was lucky enough to be right in the thick of it this year, thanks to an invitation from Lumii  – a brilliant team pushing boundaries in acoustic solutions. The brief? Paint the London skyline using Clerkenwell Design Week colours. But here’s the twist – do it directly onto acoustic panelling. No pressure, then.

It was a hands-on and challenging day, but loved every minute of it.

What is Clerkenwell Design Week?

For those who haven’t been, Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) isn’t your average trade show. It’s London’s leading independent design festival, attracting over 30,000 visitors across three days. From established global brands to up-and-coming studios, the week is packed with:

• Product launches
• Live installations
• Panel talks and workshops
• Pop-up showrooms and street-level showcases

It’s not just a trade event – it’s a creative pilgrimage. Everyone from workspace designers and fit-out specialists to sustainability consultants and brand strategists shows up, all looking for the next big idea (or at least a decent flat white).

The brief: Paint the London skyline… on what?

Lumii asked me to create a bespoke piece of art on one of their acoustic panels, using a palette drawn from Clerkenwell Design Week’s signature colours – think bright pink, blue and yellow – colours you don’t usually associate with soundproofing.

We set up at Sagal Group, whose Clerkenwell showroom provided the perfect backdrop. Their furniture has that clever mix of form and function, so the setting matched the concept: pushing materials beyond what people expect.

It was live, it wasn’t messy, but it was different – and that’s exactly the point.

Why bring art into the design process?

In a world of neutral walls and 'safe' choices, bespoke artwork can be a real game-changer – especially if it’s baked in early.

Most workplace designs tick the practical boxes: lighting, acoustics, layout. But what often gets left until the end, or even worse. missed altogether is the art.

Done well, the right art can:

• Inject personality into a brand-new space
• Tie into brand values and colours
• Spark emotion and energy in the people who use the space every day
• Encourage creativity and collaboration by making a space feel human

And crucially – art doesn’t have to be something you hang on a wall after the fit-out is done. It can be part of the materials themselves.

Why acoustic panels?

We’re seeing a rise in the use of acoustic panelling in modern office design. And for good reason. They help reduce echo, manage noise levels, and can make open-plan areas far more productive.

But let’s be honest – they’re not always the most exciting thing to look at.

So what happens when you blend acoustic function with artistic expression?

You get something that sounds better, looks better and feels better.

The piece I created at CDW proved that point. Rather than hiding the panels or treating them as an afterthought, we turned them into a focal point. People stopped, stared, and asked questions. It sparked conversations – which is exactly what art in a workspace should do.

Materials matter (and experimenting helps)

Painting directly onto acoustic material wasn’t straightforward. The surface has a texture that doesn’t behave like canvas – it absorbs differently, responds differently. I had to tweak techniques and try different tools and paints and let go of a bit of control (not easy for someone trained as a technical illustrator)!

But that’s where the magic happens.

By experimenting with materials, we open the door to new creative solutions. Imagine a reception area where the feature wall is also the sound absorber. Or a meeting space where the artwork doubles as branding and wellbeing support.

It’s not about being arty for the sake of it – it’s about turning something practical into something memorable.

My experience at Clerkenwell

Being surrounded by such creative energy was a buzz. People were genuinely curious – not just about the end result, but about the process. I had conversations with architects, designers, and even people from the sustainability space who were fascinated by how art and acoustics could be merged.

It reminded me just how much storytelling matters in design. When people see something being made – live, with brushstrokes and bold decisions, they connect with it in a different way. It’s not mass-produced. It’s not generic. It’s real.

And that’s what businesses want more of. Real, meaningful spaces that feel aligned with who they are and how they work.

Final thoughts

Art isn’t just the cherry on top. When it’s introduced early in the design process, it becomes part of the fabric of the space – literally in this case.

Whether it’s painting directly onto panels, creating a branded canvas installation, or running a workshop where the team helps create something together – the impact is the same:

• Stronger emotional connection to the space
• Better first impressions for visitors
• More pride and engagement from the team

Thanks again to Lumii for the invitation, and to Sagal Group for the brilliant setting. If you were at CDW and saw the piece – I’d love to hear what you thought.

And if you’re planning your next workspace redesign and want something that goes beyond beige walls and bolted-on canvases – give me a shout.

Ready to turn your space into something that sounds, looks and feels better?
Drop me a message or give me a bell – 0333 038 5747