At Clerkenwell Design Week 2026, Karndean Commercial will unveil a dedicated exploration of how flooring can enhance wellbeing, safety and comfort in contemporary spaces. Centred around the launch of the renewed Opus collection, the showcase demonstrates how material choice influences how people feel, move and behave in the built environment.
“Designing for wellbeing is about creating spaces that work with people, not against them,” said Richard Allen, VP of sales for commercial at Karndean Designflooring. “The new Opus collection brings natural calm, reliable safety performance and enduring style together in a way that directly supports healthier commercial environments. Across the design community there is a growing understanding that spaces actively influence stress levels, clarity and emotional balance, and Clerkenwell Design Week gives us the ideal opportunity to explore these ideas together.”
At the heart of the preview is the expanded Opus collection, featuring 31 wood and stone designs, including ten new additions. Each design has been carefully crafted to reflect the grounding, restorative qualities of nature while offering 36 plus wet PTV slip resistance for confidence in busy commercial settings. The palette introduces subtle textures, natural tonal shifts and flexible formats to support a wide range of applications, from hospitality and workplace to education and leisure.
As wellbeing becomes a central priority across commercial design, there is increasing awareness of how spaces shape emotional comfort, movement and sensory ease. Designers are placing new emphasis on materiality, flow and clarity, recognising that natural finishes, intuitive layouts and tactile surfaces can reduce stress, support focus and create environments that feel calm and effortless to navigate.
“Each new design started with a genuine material; from reclaimed oak and prime white oak to dolomite, marble and terrazzo,” added Richard. Every surface has been developed to capture authentic character while creating spaces that feel calm, comforting and emotionally supportive. The collection celebrates the role flooring plays in shaping atmosphere, encouraging clarity, relaxation and confidence in everyday environments.
A newly introduced sensory installation within the Karndean showroom at 20 Clerkenwell Green will allow visitors to experience how texture, tactility and product composition can influence emotional comfort, focus and ease of movement. The space highlights the growing role of sensory-led design in creating supportive, inclusive public environments and illustrates how flooring contributes to overall wellbeing.
Karndean will also host a series of wellbeing-led activities across the week at 20 Clerkenwell Green (by The Old Sessions House), encouraging visitors to explore the relationship between energy, creativity and restorative design. Each activity reflects the principles behind the new Opus collection, emphasising movement, sensory experience and the emotional benefits of thoughtful material choice.
Visitors can create their own nutritious smoothie using pedal-powered bikes. This energising, movement-focused experience connects to the way Opus supports natural flow and ease of movement through commercial spaces.
A mindful drop-in session inviting guests to blend their own scents and craft a personalised candle. This calming workshop mirrors the emotional warmth, sensory ease and restorative qualities found in the Opus palette.
A relaxed morning with barista coffee, pastries and the Karndean commercial team. Visitors can explore the new Opus collection, discover the brand’s approach to wellbeing and discuss how flooring contributes to comfort, clarity and the emotional tone of a space.
With the launch of the new Opus collection and the introduction of a sensory-led showroom experience, Karndean reinforces its position as a design partner focused on creating healthier, safer and more intuitive commercial spaces. The Clerkenwell showcase brings these principles to life, transforming product performance into an experience that designers can see, touch and feel.
About Karndean Designflooring
Karndean is a global supplier of commercial and residential luxury vinyl tile flooring. We’re an industry leader in flooring design, offering a wide range of colours, textures and finishes, helping you create unique looks that are both stylish and practical; guaranteed to last. We see flooring differently. We travel the world in our quest to bring you exceptional floors that inspire and delight. From the ancient forests of Europe, to the remote Australian outback, we seek out expressive and intriguing forms in the natural world to influence our unique floor designs. By combining original features with cutting edge design, we create beautiful floors that bring your vision to life and take our clients on an endless journey of design discovery.
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As Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) marks its 15th anniversary this May, the festival brings discourse and ideas to the fore. Five extensive talks programmes spread across EC1 will bring together the sharpest voices in architecture and design, cementing CDW's status as one of the world's most compelling platforms in the A&D sector for debate and discovery.
At the heart of CDW's talks offer is Conversations at Clerkenwell, the festival's official programme which has partnered with paint brand Dulux Trade this year. Curated by Katie Richardson, the programme is housed in the extraordinary setting of the Church of Design at St Bartholomew the Great - one of London's oldest and most atmospheric buildings. Each of the festival's three days opens at 11am with an intimate one-on-one interview with some of the most significant names in contemporary design.
Award-winning, Cypriot-born British designer Michael Anastassiades opens the series on Tuesday 19th May, with a conversation covering his celebrated lighting work, limited-edition collections and solo exhibitions at museums and galleries around the globe. On Wednesday 20th May, the spotlight falls on Níall McLaughlin, the architect awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2026, who will walk through an outstanding portfolio that has reshaped British architecture over three decades. On Thursday 21st May, Slovenian furniture designer Lara Bohinc reflects on her singular approach to materials, her wideranging collaborations and the new collections that continue to push her practice forward.
Conversations at Clerkenwell’s partnership with Dulux Trade has already sparked chromatic synergy. A competition - Rhythm of Blues - invited designers to create artwork for the talks stage inspired by Dulux's Colour of the Year Palette and the theme 'Meeting of Minds'. The winning entry, by Leigh Bagley of The Graphic Pattern Studio, is a work he describes as "a layered conversation between colour, geometry and people - symbolic of the blending of voices and perspectives gathering at the talks stage, where ideas overlap and evolve." It's an apt metaphor for everything that CDW's talks represent.
Dulux Trade's Creative Director Marianne Shillingford extends the partnership across three sessions of her own, exploring the global colour story for the year ahead, how to use colour to make life better in a world of AI, and the true nature of paint and what it actually does when it dries.
Other highlights include an inspiring conversation on Designing with Purpose led by Liz Bell, President of BIID (British Institute of Interior Designers); Dimorestudio, Giles Miller and Tatjana von Stein discuss The New Luxury; and Jessie Johnson from the Design Council presides over a panel on Building Skills for a Regenerative Future. Furniture brands Cozmo, Reddie, Lean Desk and SCP look ahead to predict Furniture Futures; author and journalist Katie Treddigen chairs a talk on the Future of Fabric; and Bompas & Parr, Jolie Studio Ltd and NORR11 explore what happens in design when intuition leads the way at the talk Sensory Beings. North End Design Studio and Archer Humphryes Architects discuss Dining Design with Harry McKinley, editor of Mix magazine, and artist and designer Paul Cocksedge shares his views on AI in The Trained Hand: Craft, Intuition and the New Digital Makers.
Design Meets presents narratives from leading brands and industry experts at new venue The Luxury Edit, hosted at Haberdashers’ Hall. Roundtables examine how creative industries can drive meaningful social change and protect intellectual property in an age of AI and copycats, explore Clerkenwell’s evolving identity and uncover the untapped power of music and acoustics in shaping spatial experience.
Hands-on workshops demonstrate how to reclaim creativity and human connection in an age of digital isolation and show how a bold generation of sustainability-focused graduates is turning green ideals into real-world practice. Autism and ADHD champion Piers Roberts leads a landmark panel discussion with neurodivergent designers, educators and entrepreneurs, making a compelling case for why neurodivergent skills and perspectives should be central to the teams creating the spaces of tomorrow. Additional forward-looking talks examine bespoke designs for the hospitality sector, furniture created from food waste, and Norwegian design philosophy.
The editorial team behind online magazine Design Milk host Design Dialogues at The Charterhouse Chapel, covering a rich mix of themes. Wellbeing and neurodiversity are explored with conversations around autism's cognitive profiles, the post-neuro office, and creating workplaces for a workforce that no longer fully trusts the office environment.
Nature, materials and craft are also prominent topics - from the next phase of nature-integrated design that moves beyond biophilia, to reinventing materials through a lens of nostalgia, and the creative exchange between designers and artisans. Generational and cultural shifts are addressed through talks on designing spaces for Gen Alpha and building a design brand with integrity. Rounding out the programme are sessions on immersive spaces, the iterative design process, and a sponsored talk from Aquafil.
[d]arc media returns to CDW venue Light for a fifth year of its acclaimed [d]arc thoughts programme of free-to-attend lighting-focused panels and presentations, sponsored this year by Ideolux. Talks span the full breadth of lighting design practice - from future-proofing systems for adaptability and longevity, and the art of crafting dark, atmospheric hospitality spaces, to why lighting design remains chronically undervalued.
Project-focused sessions bring theory to life, walking audiences through the creative and specification process on real-world schemes including the Radisson Red Lounge and a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Germany. [d]arc thoughts concludes with a presentation from designer Benz Roos on the search for a more soulful approach to lighting design in the 21st century, exploring how designers can strike the balance between energy use, legibility and safety while staying within budget.
Volunteer-led network Interior Design Declares, supported by lighting control solution Casambi, hosts an informative session on its activities on the evening of Wednesday 20th May with a complimentary bar and networking.
Commercial Interiors UK and its media outlet Design Insider host eight curated sessions for Design in Focus at CDW venue Commercial Design in the Park. The programme explores the ideas and forces shaping commercial interiors today, from product specification and design concepts to the evolving cultures of hospitality and workplace environments.
Highlights include a session hosted by Sanderson Design Group examining how colour and pattern are driving more expressive, emotionally resonant hospitality spaces; a discussion lead by The Contract Chair Company on the crossover between hospitality and workplace design; and a conversation between GROHE and Buster + Punch on achieving cohesion across fixtures and fittings. Design In Focus is as much about community as content - it has been curated to be an open, accessible destination for designers, specifiers, operators and industry leaders at every stage of their career.
As well as the five main talks programmes, CDW’s many venues and hundreds of showrooms across EC1 participating in the festival are hosting their own talks.
The Museum of the Order of St John, one of the hidden historical spaces of London, is a new location for CDW in 2026, hosting design collections from Spain and Austria. At 11am on Wednesday 20th May, award-winning Austrian designer Theresa Obermoser and film maker Jack Sibson will discuss Storytelling through Interior Design. From 6pm, editor-in-chief of Disegno Oli Stratford hosts a talk called El Salón at the venue during which designer Tomás Alonso discusses his installation INTERIORS OF SPAIN, the complexities of working in an historic building and his thoughts on Spanish design’s global reputation. At midday on Thursday 21st May, a talk celebrating 20 Years of Vienna Design Week will be led by the event’s director Gabriel Roland who will share insights into the legacy, craftsmanship and significance of Austrian design and how it continues to embody innovation and sustainability.
On Tuesday 19th May, the first day of the festival, ceramic tile brand Marazzi hosts a brunch panel to unpack AI, Value Engineering and the Art of Working Smarter. At 3.30pm, sustainable office pod brand Silen will host a panel discussion at the Welltek showroom entitled Circular Workspaces: Are We Designing out Waste, or Just Hiding it Better?, bringing together leading industry voices to explore how workspaces can move towards genuine circularity, moderated by design journalist Roddy Clarke on behalf of OnOffice magazine. Later that afternoon, fund-raising cycle ride Clerkenwheels will culminate at the new showroom of Australian-Indonesian sustainable furniture brand Reddie on Goswell Road. The motivation behind the initiative, which supports United in Design’s Education and Outreach Programme, will be discussed at the showroom at 6pm during a talk on Designing Diversity moderated by journalist Grant Gibson. The following day, writer and editor Debika Ray will chair a talk at the Reddie showroom about Working with Waste in Furniture Design with Charlotte Fitzgerald from Universal Design Studio and Sofia Steffenoni from Materials Assemble.
At 3pm on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th May, the Sedus showroom will host Hannah Nardini, founder of WKSpace who will deliver a presentation inspired by the question How Can Workplaces Become Truly Inclusive across Generations? Her conclusions, based on extensive research from over 50,000 people surveyed across the UK, will be discussed at a roundtable afterwards. Belgian flooring brand modulyss has curated a programme of events throughout the festival including talks on Transparency in Sustainable Design and Customisation, and a panel discussion on AI in Architecture. VitrA will host two ‘In conversation with’ talks. On Tuesday 19th May, Head of Design Nisan Tunçak will join designer Terri Pecora for From Concept to Culture: The Meaning of the Plural Collection in Today’s Design Landscape. On Wednesday 20th May, she will be joined by Anne-Rachel Schiffman, Senior Interior Architect at Snøhetta, for A Conversation on Ceramics and Architecture.
Industry bodies and media titles will offer visitors insights into high-profile brands and practices across EC1 throughout the festival. These will include the OnOffice Workplace Tour, Women in Office Design tours, RIBAJ Tours at CDW, a tour from SBID and the BIID CDW Exclusive Tour.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 takes place across EC1, London, from 19 - 21 May. More details about the festival will be announced in due course. For more information, please visit clerkenwelldesignweek.com – registration is now open.
About Clerkenwell Design Week 2026
CDW celebrates its 15th edition by transforming London’s most important design hub into a destination where architects and interior designers come to discover cutting-edge products, ideas and inspiration!
Experience two guided tours around Clerkenwell to explore participating showrooms, discover the latest collections and network with the industry!
Tuesday 19 May, 10 am - Stop 1 & Breakfast: Welltek - Haberdashers Hall, Church of Design - Charterhouse & Trilux - Ahrend - Boss - Reddie - Hansgrohe - Final Stop: Duravit
Thursday 21 May, 10 am - Stop 1 & Breakfast: HAT Collective - KI Europe - Hansgrohe - ETHIMO - Deadgood - Workbench - Final Stop: Haberdashers Hall, Church of Design
SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points (per showroom) for attending!
Don’t forget your must also be registered to attend Clerkenwell Design Week. To complete your registration, click here.
Set within one of the world’s most concentrated design districts, the festival brings together leading international brands, contemporary installations and thought-provoking talks across a network of historic and newly unveiled venues.
New highlights include The Luxury Edit at Haberdashers’ Hall, home to the Design Meets talks programme. For the first time, the Museum of the Order of St John above St John’s Gate will host a striking Spanish installation and a curated showcase of contemporary Spanish brands, further strengthening the festival’s international presence. Returning icons such as Light at the House of Detention, the Church of Design and the 14th-century Charterhouse underline Clerkenwell Design Week’s unique ability to place the future of design within the city’s architectural past - where design truly belongs.
SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points for attending!
They will be showcasing their collaborations on limited finishes for both the Dornbracht and JUNG products. There will be crafted cocktails, stonebaked pizzas, and an immersive experience by local artist, Becky Smith.
On the stand Dornbracht will be showcasing their new design series in both the bathroom and kitchen sector. They will also have some one-off pieces from their Atelier segment of the business which is well worth coming to see.
The show will be open to the public as follows: - Tuesday 19th May: 10 am - 6 pm - Wednesday 20th May: 10 am - 9 pm - Thursday 21st May: 10 am - 5 pm
Over the three-day event, our team will be showcasing the importance of hydration for your health and wellbeing, as well as highlighting the importance of advanced filtration in drinking water.
A range of products will be on display to view, including our new Accessibility Controller and our Brushed Brass finish of HydroTap. Our team will be on hand for product demonstrations, and to discuss how our award-winning solutions can work for you.
At Clerkenwell Design Week 2025, Karndean unveiled a powerful installation exploring how flooring can support neurodiverse individuals. Using the principles of neuro inclusive design, the experience highlighted how the built environment can meet both hypersensitive and hyposensitive needs—through calm, stimulation, and the thoughtful transitions in between.
“Designing for neurodiversity is about more than accessibility. It’s about recognising and celebrating difference,” said Richard Allen, sales director at Karndean Designflooring. “Flooring plays a vital role in shaping how people feel, move, and focus in a space.”
One half of the installation was designed to soothe. With soft wood grains, low contrast matte finishes and a muted, biophilic palette, the space showed how calm environments can support those sensitive to sensory input. A cocooning arch form added a sense of safety, ideal for settings like quiet rooms or waiting areas.
In contrast, the other half stimulated the senses with bold geometric flooring, vibrant colours, and varied textures. Designed for those who seek stimulation to stay focused, this zone echoed the energy of play areas, gyms or breakout spaces. Every detail encouraged movement, curiosity and engagement.
Linking the two was a staircase that gradually blended calm and bold elements, demonstrating how transitional spaces like corridors and hallways can help people move comfortably between sensory states. Step by step, the flooring shifted in colour and texture, serving as both a practical and conceptual bridge. “Many environments are unconsciously designed around neurotypical experiences,” said Richard. “But inclusive design must consider the full sensory spectrum, and we believe flooring can be a powerful tool to do just that.”
The installation included talking points to spark reflection and conversation. It supported Karndean’s wider mission—empowering designers with the tools and knowledge to create inclusive spaces. Their RIBA approved CPD, Designing Neuro Inclusive Environments, offers practical guidance on how to integrate neurodiversity into every stage of the design process.
With one in seven people in the UK identifying as neurodivergent, and only one in three feeling comfortable disclosing it at work, there is a clear need to design spaces that support different ways of thinking and being. Flooring, often the most visible and tactile element in a room, plays a significant role in that experience.
“By combining insight, design guidance and products that bring calm and clarity to a space, we’re proud to support the growing movement toward more inclusive, human centred environments,” added Richard.
Karndean’s installation was more than a visual showcase. It brought inclusive design principles to life and reaffirmed the brand’s role as a trusted partner for designers committed to making a real difference.
To find out more and register your interest for the Designing Neuro Inclusive Environments seminar, visit karndean.com/cpd.
At the event, Hansgrohe will launch AXOR's second Emerging Talent Design Competition based on the "Escape from the Ordinary" white paper. One talented graduate (or recent graduate within 3 years) will win: - A coveted place on an interior designers' trip to Schiltach, the home of AXOR - A year-long pass to the Festival of Hospitality
Event Highlights (Tuesday 20th May, 3pm - 7pm): - Portfolio Workshop with Bez Amdemichael from Goddard Littlefair offering professional tips and hints - CV & Interview Masterclass with industry insiders - Networking Workshop led by business design experts Karen and Katie from Always Thinking - Keynote Address by Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́, founder of international design agency Adeko & Co hosted by Hamish Kilburn, journalist and founder of Kilburn Communications
Other activities will be happening at the Water Studio through the week. Highlights include: - Wednesday 21st May - Bath Salt Making with Hackney Herbal (11am – 1pm): Guests can participate in a relaxing, hands-on workshop creating bespoke bath salts using herbs and essential oils. Ice cream and Pimm’s will also be served. - Thursday 22nd May - The Legendary Design Party (5pm – 8pm): Celebrate the close of CDW with authentic German street food, cocktails, music from DJ Anna, and captivating entertainment, all hosted in the transformed Water Studio.
Enjoy breakfast with Moroso before you’re taken on a guided tour around Clerkenwell to explore participating showrooms, discover the latest collections and network with the industry!
- Stop 1 & Breakfast: Moroso - Danish Collection - Milliken - Ethimo - Church of Design - Charter House - The Vault - ITA - Final Stop: Old Sessions House with Material Bank
Don’t forget your must also be registered to attend Clerkenwell Design Week. To complete your registration, visit www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com
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