- DCCI Irish Design Week kicks off as pioneering new joint-purchase programme is announced
- The programme will involve acquiring and conserving key pieces of Irish design and craft for the national collection
15 November 2025: Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) have signed a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a major step forward in their ongoing collaboration to promote, preserve and celebrate Ireland’s design and craft heritage.
The agreement builds on a historical partnership between the two organisations and will see them work together on a new joint-purchase programme to acquire and conserve key pieces of Irish design and craft for the national collection.
The official announcement of the partnership took place today at the opening of ‘The Ties that Tie and the Links that Link’ exhibition in Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s National Design & Craft Gallery (NDCG) Kilkenny. The exhibition explores the evolution of Ireland’s design success from the legacy of the Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW) to the future of Irish design which includes Dolmen; PA Consulting; Kilkenny Design Consultancy and Logitech. DCCI and the NMI announced several other major initiatives, including:
- The announcement of a permanent collection of Kilkenny Design Workshops artefacts at Collins Barracks, beginning with the personal collection of Mary V Mullin, who worked as assistant to the Chairman of Kilkenny Design Workshops between 1967 and 1978, and will feature over 130 pieces
- The introduction of the Irish Design Excellence Award (IDEA), a new national honour recognising outstanding achievement in Irish design
- The launch of a digital copy of “Kilkenny Design – twenty-one years of design in Ireland”, which is the definitive record of the KDW’s history, will be made publicly accessible online from 15th November 2025.
The announcement comes ahead of a landmark programme of events for DCCI’s Irish Design Week 2025. Irish Design Week is an initiative with storytelling at its core, that gives voice to the inspiration, process, purpose and impact of Irish and global design.
The Irish Design Week programme is curated by DCCI with the support of Ireland’s top design institutions, including the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF); the National College of Art and Design (NCAD); The Institute of Creative Advertising & Design (ICAD); Distinctive Repetition and the 100 Archive.
Irish Design Week runs annually and comprises a weeklong programme of events. This year, it will run from 17th – 21st November, with keynote events run by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) in collaboration with leading industry partners taking place in the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin 2. A further 50+ events supported by DCCI will take place in 15 counties across Ireland during Irish Design Week. Tickets for events are now available online at https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week-2025/.
Mary Blanchfield, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: “This agreement opens an exciting new chapter for Irish design and craft. Working alongside the National Museum of Ireland allows us to preserve the stories, skills, and ideas that continue to shape our creative culture. Through this partnership, we’re ensuring that Ireland’s design legacy is not only protected but also reimagined for the next generation.
“The inclusion of the KDW artefacts marks a defining step in that journey. It reflects the lasting influence of the past and highlights what can be achieved when institutions come together with a shared sense of purpose. This collaboration looks both backward and forward, honouring the foundations of Irish design, while fostering its future.”
Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, said: “The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to strengthen our partnership with DCCI through this new Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement reaffirms our shared commitment to collecting, preserving, and showcasing the story of Irish design and craft.
“We are especially honoured to welcome the Mary V Mullin Collection into the national collection. This extraordinary archive of artefacts captures the innovation, influence, and enduring impact of the Kilkenny Design Workshops. By safeguarding and sharing this legacy, we continue to celebrate on, creativity, and collaboration.”
DCCI Irish Design Week is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment through Enterprise Ireland.
ENDS
Issued by Murray on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland
For further information, contact:
Martin Phelan
087 246 7106
Notes to editors
About Irish Design Week
Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) Irish Design Week (IDW) is a multidisciplinary event series that celebrates the best of Irish design and shines a light on the latest trends and innovations in design both nationally and abroad. Launched in 2022, the annual programme of events runs each November, and features a diverse mix of keynote events, workshops, exhibitions and discussions. Each year, a new theme is announced that shapes the week’s conversations and provides a unifying focus across all events.
The 2025 edition takes place from 17–21 November, with flagship events hosted by DCCI at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin 2, and many more supported by DCCI are run by organisations and individuals all over Ireland. For more information and event booking, go to IrishDesignWeek.ie and follow @irish_designweek on Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is the national agency for craft and design in Ireland, we support designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of craft and design. DCCI’s activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 68 member organisations and over 3,500 registered clients.
www.dcci.ie @dccireland
About National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland preserves and promotes Ireland’s heritage across the island and the world. It contributes to the collective memory and identity of all people with Irish connections, nationally and internationally, through Ireland’s National Collections and programmes. The National Museum welcomes over one million visitors annually to four museums, providing opportunities to be inspired, engaged and informed through inclusive and accessible events and public programmes.
The four museum sites are:
- National Museum of Ireland – Kildare Street, Dublin 2
- National Museum of Ireland – Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
- National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
- National Museum of Ireland – Merrion Street, Dublin 2 (closed for works)
Admission to the National Museum of Ireland and its exhibitions is free.
