Every May, the cobbled streets of Clerkenwell transform into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation, and inspiration — and this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week was no exception. As the UK & Ireland’s leading design festival, CDW 2025 brought together the very best in workplace interiors, furniture, lighting, surfaces, and materials.
Last week, two of our team — Mike and Peter — made the trip to London to immerse themselves in everything the festival had to offer. With hundreds of showroom events, dozens of exhibitions, installations and talks scattered across the neighbourhood, it was a packed (and slightly blister-inducing!) few days — but absolutely worth it.
Why We Make the Trip Every Year
For OfficeMaster, attending Clerkenwell Design Week isn’t just about seeing beautiful furniture (although there’s plenty of that). It’s about staying on top of workplace trends, understanding where office design is headed, and connecting with the brilliant people shaping that future. It’s an investment in insight — and in the relationships that power our business.
From flexible acoustic pods to clever new takes on hybrid working furniture, CDW helps us stay a step ahead — so we can keep delivering futureproof interiors for our clients across Ireland.
Trendspotting: What Caught Our Eye
We saw a lot over the three days, but a few things really stood out:
-
Softer, more residential finishes: More than ever, workplace furniture is borrowing textures and materials from home interiors. Think boucle, oak, brushed metals and warm tones — creating offices that feel inviting and human.
-
Focus on wellbeing: There’s a big shift toward spaces that support mental and physical health. Ergonomic seating continues to evolve, but we also saw more biophilic design, calming breakout zones, and tools to support movement throughout the day.
-
Tech-integrated furniture: Desks, meeting pods and even lounge pieces now come with clever built-in tech: wireless charging, lighting presets, climate control and smart booking systems — all designed to support hybrid working and make the workplace work harder.
-
Circular design and sustainability: We had brilliant conversations with manufacturers about material reuse, carbon reduction, and closed-loop production. These conversations matter — and they’re shaping the next generation of workspace design.
Building Stronger Partnerships
One of the highlights for us was reconnecting with our trusted manufacturing and trade partners — and getting introduced to a few new ones too. There’s something powerful about seeing products in context, talking to the designers behind them, and sharing a coffee with people who are just as obsessed with great workplace design as we are.
We also had the pleasure of attending a VIP party hosted by The Senator Group at their stunning Clerkenwell showroom. The event spanned five floors plus a rooftop terrace — talk about making an entrance — and the atmosphere really came alive when Celebrity DJ Rylan Clark took the decks. It was a brilliant mix of design, music, and networking that helped bring everyone together in style.
A massive thank you to everyone who welcomed us into their showrooms, took time to walk us through new collections, and gave us a fresh burst of inspiration for the months ahead.
Looking Ahead
Clerkenwell always sends us home with full notebooks and full minds — and this year was no different. We’re already thinking about how some of the ideas, products and materials we saw can benefit our clients, from compact home offices to large-scale corporate HQs.
As the world of work continues to evolve, so too must the spaces we create. Attending events like CDW helps ensure we’re not just following trends — we’re part of them.
Keep an eye on our channels over the coming weeks as we share more of what we saw, loved and learned at #CDW2025.
Until next year, Clerkenwell... we’ll be back.
Every May, the cobbled streets of Clerkenwell transform into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation, and inspiration — and this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week was no exception. As the UK & Ireland’s leading design festival, CDW 2025 brought together the very best in workplace interiors, furniture, lighting, surfaces, and materials.
Last week, two of our team — Mike and Peter — made the trip to London to immerse themselves in everything the festival had to offer. With hundreds of showroom events, dozens of exhibitions, installations and talks scattered across the neighbourhood, it was a packed (and slightly blister-inducing!) few days — but absolutely worth it.
Why We Make the Trip Every Year
For OfficeMaster, attending Clerkenwell Design Week isn’t just about seeing beautiful furniture (although there’s plenty of that). It’s about staying on top of workplace trends, understanding where office design is headed, and connecting with the brilliant people shaping that future. It’s an investment in insight — and in the relationships that power our business.
From flexible acoustic pods to clever new takes on hybrid working furniture, CDW helps us stay a step ahead — so we can keep delivering futureproof interiors for our clients across Ireland.
Trendspotting: What Caught Our Eye
We saw a lot over the three days, but a few things really stood out:
-
Softer, more residential finishes: More than ever, workplace furniture is borrowing textures and materials from home interiors. Think boucle, oak, brushed metals and warm tones — creating offices that feel inviting and human.
-
Focus on wellbeing: There’s a big shift toward spaces that support mental and physical health. Ergonomic seating continues to evolve, but we also saw more biophilic design, calming breakout zones, and tools to support movement throughout the day.
-
Tech-integrated furniture: Desks, meeting pods and even lounge pieces now come with clever built-in tech: wireless charging, lighting presets, climate control and smart booking systems — all designed to support hybrid working and make the workplace work harder.
-
Circular design and sustainability: We had brilliant conversations with manufacturers about material reuse, carbon reduction, and closed-loop production. These conversations matter — and they’re shaping the next generation of workspace design.
Building Stronger Partnerships
One of the highlights for us was reconnecting with our trusted manufacturing and trade partners — and getting introduced to a few new ones too. There’s something powerful about seeing products in context, talking to the designers behind them, and sharing a coffee with people who are just as obsessed with great workplace design as we are.
We also had the pleasure of attending a VIP party hosted by The Senator Group at their stunning Clerkenwell showroom. The event spanned five floors plus a rooftop terrace — talk about making an entrance — and the atmosphere really came alive when Celebrity DJ Rylan Clark took the decks. It was a brilliant mix of design, music, and networking that helped bring everyone together in style.
A massive thank you to everyone who welcomed us into their showrooms, took time to walk us through new collections, and gave us a fresh burst of inspiration for the months ahead.
Looking Ahead
Clerkenwell always sends us home with full notebooks and full minds — and this year was no different. We’re already thinking about how some of the ideas, products and materials we saw can benefit our clients, from compact home offices to large-scale corporate HQs.
As the world of work continues to evolve, so too must the spaces we create. Attending events like CDW helps ensure we’re not just following trends — we’re part of them.
Keep an eye on our channels over the coming weeks as we share more of what we saw, loved and learned at #CDW2025.
Until next year, Clerkenwell... we’ll be back.
