Getting creative with clay at Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) 2024 has once again demonstrated why it stands as the UK's leading design festival. This year's event, held from May 21-23, was a vibrant showcase of innovation and creativity, highlighting the latest trends and products in the design sector. 

Clerkenwell, renowned globally for its dense concentration of creative businesses and architects, provided the perfect backdrop for this celebration of design. With over 600 showroom events and 11 exhibitions taking place this year, Wienerberger joined the festivities at the impressive EH Smith Design Centre.

The highlight of wienerberger's event was the "What Would You Draw on a Brick?" competition. Building on last year's success, we reintroduced this unique contest, inviting architects and designers to unleash their creativity. This year's theme, “Back to Basics,” underscored the fundamental role of drawing in architecture, encouraging participants to put pen to brick and craft their own artwork on a wienerberger brick.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, with over 200 entries already submitted. Each entry will be exhibited at the EH Smith Design Centre in London, culminating in an Awards Ceremony in October where the most outstanding designs will be celebrated, and winners announced.

The top prize for this year's competition is an exclusive trip to the Netherlands to tour our innovative factory. This facility is among the first in wienerberger's international portfolio to implement digital engobing, a pioneering technique in brick manufacturing. Additionally, throughout the summer, we will host mini events at our London showroom, providing more opportunities for architects to submit their brick designs. 

The wienerberger Specification team hosted the event, offering expert insights into all aspects of brickwork and our extensive range of building products. Their knowledge and enthusiasm sparked enlightening conversations about the innovative potential of bricks beyond traditional uses.

We were honoured to feature Livia Spinolo, our artist in residence, who displayed her brick artwork. Her creations inspired many to reconsider clay as an artistic medium and appreciate bricks as art forms. As National Sales Manager John Monk aptly said, "We want people to see bricks as more than just construction materials, but as pieces of art. The 'What Would You Draw on a Brick' competition is a fantastic opportunity to achieve that."

This year, Clerkenwell Design Week has partnered with Swatchbox, a platform that connects building professionals with product samples from leading manufacturers worldwide. wienerberger collaborates with Swatchbox, distributing our glazed bricks through their network, further demonstrating our commitment to providing design professionals with premium materials. During the festival, the Swatchbox team visited the EH Smith Design Centre, where our Channel Marketing Manager, Aidoia Puig-Delfin, was featured in a filming session for their social media channels.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2024 stood out as a key event in wienerberger's architectural calendar. It showcased our dedication to innovation and excellence in brick manufacturing while celebrating the creativity and talent within the design community. We eagerly anticipate future events and remain committed to inspiring architects and designers on our shared journey. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and made this event truly unforgettable. We eagerly await displaying your designs and revealing our winners at the Awards Ceremony in October! Meanwhile, enjoy the event highlights in the video below.