18th May 2016

CDW Interview: Katie Treggiden, The Fiera Edit

– by Milly Burroughs

Katie Treggiden is a one-woman whirlwind of enthusiasm for nurturing the big-hitting design talents of the future. Having founded Confessions of a Design Geek in 2010 as a destination for discovering mouth-wateringly fresh design talent, Katie has gone on to bring her personal brand of passion for design to magazines such as Elle Decoration, OnOffice, Icon and Dezeen.

In 2014 Katie founded Fiera magazine, an elegant biannual ode to the discovery of new talent at the world’s design fairs. Now, following two brilliant years, she is preparing to share the Fiera Edit as part of Clerkenwell London’s Design Undefined exhibition. Showcasing three emerging creatives, Katie will join the likes of Kia Utzon-Frank and Seetal Solanki at the gold-floored design destination during Clerkenwell Design Week.

With a week until the festival, we took time out to talk parties, retail and doing ten things at once with Katie.

What does Clerkenwell Design Week represent to you?

What I used to love most about Clerkenwell Design Week was that it was possible to see it all in a day, so you could really take your time, but as it grows year on year, that is less and less true. However, it is a manageable festival, unlike LDF or Milan which can feel quite overwhelming at times – and it has a lovely festival vibe with showroom parties spilling out onto the streets, and (hopefully!) long sunny days.

What role do creative spaces and retailers like Clerkenwell London play in the exposure of new design talent?

It's really important that once you have some power to make a difference, you use it for good. Taking a risk on new designers is just one way creative spaces and retailers like Clerkenwell London can do that, and I'm really excited to work with them because they are brave enough to do just that.

Who do you always look forward to seeing at Clerkenwell Design Week? Is it a good opportunity to discuss the future of design with like-minded people?

I always joke that I need to see Clerkenwell Design Week in disguise, because I spend so long nattering to people that I never get quite enough time to see everything, but in truth, that's what I love most about it. Clerkenwell Design Week is a wonderful coming together of the design industry, with a real focus on new design talent, and those unexpected conversations often lead to fantastic opportunities and insights.

How long does it take for you to prepare for something like CDW?

I've got no idea – I've never totted it up, which is probably for the best! I'm curating three exhibitions this year. Alongside the Fiera Edit, there is Makers of East London at Desso – which comprises a stunning window display by Kyla McCallum, an exhibition of locally made products and furniture, and a series of making workshops and demonstrations – and the Making of a Magazine at magCulture, during which we'll be dissecting the process of putting together Issue 04 of Fiera Magazine, which goes to print shortly after the festival. I'm also chairing three panel events and hoping to see everything, so I'm going to be pretty busy!

What are you most looking forward to seeing at CDW16?

Max Fraser has selected 24 individuals to each choose a single object and comment on what it means to them. These objects, not necessarily what you might think of 'designed objects' but not-the-less of huge value to those who have selected them will be displayed in the Keep at Clerkenwell London. I can't wait to see what people choose and how the objects challenge people's perception of 'design'.

For updates from Clerkenwell London during Clerkenwell Design Week follow them on Twitter and Instagram!

The Fiera Edit will include above 1: Satelite Lights from Marta Bordes, Below 1: Furniture desginers Novacastrian, 2: Katharina Eisenkoeck stone&mirror collection, 3: The previous three issues of Fiera magazine.