Crown Paints brings colour, conversation and creativity to Clerkenwell Design Week

Crown Paints is set to make its mark at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week, welcoming architects and designers to its dedicated space at Material Source Studio London for a week of colour exploration, discussion and hands-on creativity.

Marking the first time Crown Paints has had a permanent presence in Clerkenwell through Material Source Studio London, the brand will offer visitors the opportunity to engage directly with colour in a tactile, immersive environment. Throughout the festival, guests are invited to drop in, explore real paint samples, experiment with colour under different lighting conditions, and speak with Crown’s Architect & Design consultants about the power of colour.

Visitors will also be able to explore Crown’s range of high-performance coatings, including specialist solutions such as Crown Trade Clean Extreme, offering durable finishes developed to meet the demands of modern commercial interiors.

A key highlight of the programme is the panel discussion, “Inclusive by Design: Colour, Lived Experience and Inclusion.” Chaired by Emily Jeffers, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the session brings together a diverse panel of experts and individuals with lived experience to explore how design can better support neurodiverse and dementia-friendly environments.

The panel features Magda Mostafa, an internationally recognised specialist in autism and Neuro-inclusive design; Dave Wilson-Wynne, dementia care specialist, consultant and thought leader; Kelly Grainger, Autistic / ADHD neurodiversity consultant, specialising in inclusive workplaces; and Kathryn Lloyd, Colour Specialist at Crown Paints who applies colour insight across a range of inclusive design projects.

Together, the panel will explore how colour, contrast and materiality influence behaviour, comfort and navigation across shared environments — from workplaces and healthcare settings to public spaces. The discussion will also open to audience questions, encouraging an open and collaborative dialogue around designing for diverse needs. The session reinforces Crown Paints’ ongoing commitment to inclusive, human-centred design.

Alongside the panel, Crown Paints will host “Paint Your Possible”, an interactive workshop inviting visitors to step away from the busy festival and engage creatively with colour. Participants will create their own mini artworks using Crown’s ‘Disrupt’ Colour Palette, contributing to a collective installation within the studio — a celebration of creativity, expression and the possibilities of paint.

Visitors can also experience Crown’s full suite of colour tools and services, including the Colour Edit, an expertly curated collection of 160 colours, created with real Crown Trade paint for true colour accuracy to support moodboarding and specification. With expert guidance available throughout the week, the space offers a practical and inspiring resource for architects and designers looking to bring their ideas to life.

Crown Paints’ presence at Clerkenwell Design Week reflects its continued investment in the design community, providing meaningful opportunities for collaboration, learning and inspiration.