The son to an architect, Ed Swan was born in Worcestershire, England in 1979. He graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a degree in 3D Design in 2002. On graduating with MA in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in 2005, Swan’s achievements covered several awards, including the 10 Around Town competition for Sun Microsystems. As a finalist for Garrard jewellers’ design competition, he created innovative jewellery integrating precious stones and micro-electronics.  In 2005 his “Obscura View” work gained interest from E&Y, Japan and consequently was installed in Tom Dixon’s first architectural adventure, the Tokyo Hipster’s Club. He has since had work exhibited at the Design Museum, London.

Based in London, Swan’s work has been presented by Ron Arad and more recently with Okay Studio as part of exhibitions in London, Milan, and Cologne.  Swan currently works in the Creative and Interiors team at fashion retailer Ben Sherman headquarters, and is an independent product, furniture and lighting designer operating from OKAY Studio in Stoke Newington, a space shared with fellow Royal College of Art alumni.

Kent-based sculptor/maker, Adam Kershaw works on bespoke craft projects including sculpture, furniture, repurposed railway carriages and small spaces. Kershaw’s clients include Alison Wilding, Martino Gamper, Phyllida Barlow, Wallpaper* Magazine, Retrouvius, Event Communications and Skanska. Adam graduated with a BA in Sculpture from Chelsea College of Art and later attended the Royal College of Art where he graduated with an MA in Sculpture.

One of the best-loved events in the design industry calendar, Clerkenwell Design Week is a three-day annual festival gathering Clerkenwell’s long-established design community together. Now in its fifth year, the event has increasingly become a must go-to showcase for the UK and international design community. Last year’s show attracted over 50,000 registered attendees and 250 brands from the UK and across the globe. 

The name Clerkenwell comes from the Clerks’ Well in Farringdon Lane, where London parish clerks performed the famous Medieval Mystery Plays throughout the Middle Ages. Since the Industrial Revolution, the area has housed craft workshops, printers, clockmakers and jewellers. Traditional crafts, such as printing and bookbinding still flourish, as do graphic designers. In the last two decades, Clerkenwell’s unique variety buildings have been transformed into central studio and workshop spaces, attracting an unprecedented concentration of architectural, design and creative practices. 

The global businesses that have made Clerkenwell their home have shaped the borough into the UK’s most important generator of creativity and innovation. Serving an infinite variety of  other industries easily accessible from across London, Clerkenwell has become home to a  plethora of new media agencies, graphic and interactive design studios and more than 200  architectural practices - more per square mile than anywhere else on the planet. In addition, Clerkenwell houses over 60 design showrooms including world leaders Vitra, Poltrona Frau, Knoll and Steelcase.