The Wagstaff and Umbrella showroom at Brewhouse Yard undergoes its most ambitious transformation yet at this Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW). The renowned annual showcase returns with a theme at the heart of contemporary workplace debate: ‘Neurodiversity in the Workplace’ inviting visitors on a sensory-informed journey of activations and education exploring how design can empower, challenge, provoke and inspire different minds.
‘Umbrella+Friends’ will present eight international world-class design brands that intersect aesthetic excellence with sensory wellbeing, plus unmissable headline talks, a live Sustainable Materials showcase, an architectural LEGO® build workshop and the return of our furry friends at the Puppy Therapy sessions.
‘We believe design should serve every person in a room – not just the majority. With neurodiversity affecting one in five people in any given workplace, we need to go beyond beautiful objects and ask how our built environment makes people feel. At this year’s CDW we hope every visitor leaves with a different perspective on what truly inclusive design can look and feel like’, Matt Clarke, Managing Director, Umbrella Furniture.
By bridging industry insights with leading world-class design brands and the most engaging activations in EC1, the Wagstaff and Umbrella space will once again prove to be the definitive ‘’not to miss’ destination of Clerkenwell Design Week 2026.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME & ACTIVATIONS
Umbrella+ Friends | Product Installation
- The ‘Umbrella+Friends’ product zones showcase eight international brands, presenting the sculptural elegance of Arco and Wendelbo, the ergonomic innovation of Savo, and the craftsmanship of Midj, NINE, Paged, Piaval and Woud.
Puppy Therapy Sessions | Daily, 19–21 May | Booking Required
- The CDW favourite Puppy Therapy Sessions return. 20-minute daily sensory resets with the resident therapy puppies for the ultimate antidote to festival fatigue. Eight sessions daily (10:00–15:30, 20 minutes each | free to attend | first-come, first-served).
Interactive LEGO® Workshop | Drop In, free to attend
- Led by Wagstaff’s Fit Out division, the on-site ‘London Scene’ LEGO® architectural build station invites visitors to contribute to an evolving collaborative build throughout the week. Tactile, playful, no booking needed.
Material Truths: An Upholstery Showcase | Drop In, free to attend
- Upholstery specialist Jade Ilke presents a touch‑and‑feel materials showcase exploring the good, the bad and the genuinely smarter circular material choices to reduce carbon, through refurbishment and minimise harmful materials released into our spaces. Explore the materials up close.
Daily Refreshments
- Artisan refreshments will be available throughout the week.
TALKS PROGRAMME
Wednesday 20 May, 4pm ‘The Senses and Sensibilities of Designing for Neurodivergency’
- Chaired by William Knight (Material Matters), this panel asks how senses including sight, sound and touch dictate neurological comfort in the workplace. Joining the conversation: Lundhs Real Stone, Lamnaire, Eikund, and neurodivergent advocate Piers Roberts – exploring how the right material choices can shift a space from sensory overload to quiet focus.
Thursday 21 May, 4pm ‘The Sensory Office: Designing for the 100%’
- Chaired by Vanessa Champion (Journal of Biophilic Design), this panel moves beyond the ‘average’ user to ask how high-energy and low-stimulus spaces can genuinely coexist. With Ambitious About Autism charity, the Government Property Agency (GPA), Oliver Heath Design and Gensler the discussion tackles natural materiality, user autonomy and the very real business case for neuro-inclusive design.
UMBRELLA+FRIENDS: 2026 partners
Arco | www.arco.nl
- Since 1904, Dutch manufacturer Arco has crafted contemporary tables using sustainably sourced European timber. Designed for the modern workplace, their furniture offers flexible solutions tailored to specific heights, colours, and sizes. Each contemporary, understated piece includes an Eco Passport, providing full transparency on material composition and environmental impact. Presenting Slim, Enso, RE-volve and more.
Slim | Enso by Arco
MIDJ | www.midj.com
- Family-run since 1987, MIDJ combines traditional Italian craftsmanship with innovation, creativity and sustainability, presenting the award-winning 100% recyclable Yak sofa by Nicola Bonriposi, the leather-woven P47 armchair by Franco Poli, and the archetypal Leo table by Paolo Vernier. Radically simple, MIDJ combines traditional craftsmanship with circular assembly to define sustainable contemporary spaces.
P47 | Pippi | Yak by Midj
NINE | www.nine-furniture.com
- Creating objects that bring joy, ease and character to everyday life, NINE presents SINE by Note Design Studio, a collection inspired by mathematical sine waves. Stainless steel pieces utilize a cantilevered base for gentle recline and swing, and draped metal sheets provide a calming softness and low-stimulation for outdoor environments.
SINE by NINE
Paged | www.pagedfurniture.com
- Heirs to Michael Thonet’s bentwood legacy, with 140 years of Polish craftsmanship, Paged showcases organic, hand-bent forms and calming palette by Maja Ganszyniec. Grounding the sensory office through natural timber and cane for a restorative, grounding tactile anchor.
Aria Lounge and Nodo range by Paged
Piaval | piaval.it
- With a Century of tailored Italian Heritage, Piaval presents high-end, customisable seating designed for wellness, utilizing organic shapes and acoustic-friendly materials to create restorative pockets of calm. On display will be the Moka, Rudi and Trench seating ranges, and the Apéro table.
Trench Armchair | Amalfi Armchair | Shell Armchair by Piava
Savo | www.savo.com
- Celebrating 80 years of Scandinavian innovation, Savo is a masterclass in ‘Active Sitting’: where intuitive design and honest materials work in harmony to ground the senses and energise the mind. Presenting Savo 360 with sustainable timber core and the high-performance Soul Air – collections that explore the intersection of human-centric movement and natural materiality in office seating.
Savo 360 | Savo range (photo:Morten Nordstrøm)
Wendelbo | www.wendelbo.com
- Seven decades of Danish craft. CDW26 sees the launch of Wendlebo’s NEW Panorama Studio Sofa and Panorama Lounge Chair by Jonas Wagell, plus the Alti Lounge Chair by Atlason Studio and Kin Tables by British designer John Astbury. A showcase of high-end upholstery and sculptural forms, designed to foster intuitive comfort and sophisticated connection within the sensory office.
Panorama Sofa | Kin Table | Panorama Lounge Chair by Wendlebo
WOUD | www.wouddesign.com
- Danish brand WOUD presents a selection from its sofa collection, focusing on flexible and durable seating solutions. Designed with comfort, longevity and adaptability in mind, the sofas combine timeless Scandinavian design with modular possibilities and high quality materials.
Flora, Kimino and Soma by Woud
EVENT DETAILS
19 – 21 May 2026 | 10am – 6pm
Wagstaff & Umbrella, 9 Brewhouse Yard, London, EC1V 4JR
Register and book with Umbrella & Wagstaff: www.eventbrite.co.uk