Celebrating the Cultural Significance of Contemporary Irish Design
Discover a curated selection of Ireland’s most significant contemporary design projects, nominated by the nation’s leading design organisations and selected in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland.
Presented as part of Irish Design Week 2026, the exhibition showcases outstanding work across design disciplines, highlighting the ideas, innovations, and creative achievements shaping Ireland today.
What is the Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition?
The Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition is a new national initiative developed by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and the National Museum of Ireland (NMI).
Bringing together projects nominated by Ireland’s leading design organisations, the exhibition celebrates contemporary design that demonstrates exceptional quality, innovation, impact, and Cultural and National Significance.
Rather than presenting design as a collection of disciplines, the exhibition explores design as a cultural force: one that influences how we live, work, communicate, make, create, and imagine the future.
From architecture and product design to craft, fashion, graphics, digital experiences, and service design, the exhibition offers a unique snapshot of contemporary Irish creativity.
Why Does It Matter?
Throughout history, design has shaped the way societies function and express themselves.
The Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition asks a simple question:
Which contemporary Irish design projects will matter in fifty years?
The projects selected for the exhibition are not only examples of design excellence. They are works that contribute to Ireland’s cultural story, reflect its values, and demonstrate the role design plays in shaping society.
Together, they form a record of contemporary Ireland and provide insight into how creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship continue to influence the nation’s future.
The IDEA Selection
Nominated by Industry. Selected for the Nation.
Each participating design organisation was invited to nominate projects that best represent excellence within its discipline.
Projects are evaluated according to:
- Cultural and National Significance
- Design Excellence
- Innovation
- Impact
- Contemporary Relevance
The final selection represents a cross-section of Ireland’s contemporary design landscape, showcasing projects that have influenced culture, communities, industry, and public life.
Meet the Organisations Behind the Selection
The exhibition also recognises the important role played by Ireland’s design organisations in identifying, supporting, and championing excellence. Each selected project is presented alongside the organisation that nominated it, creating an initial collective portrait of Ireland’s design ecosystem and the communities that sustain it.
The National Collection
Preserving Design for Future Generations
A key ambition of the Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition is to build a lasting record of contemporary Irish design.
As part of the programme, the National Museum of Ireland has committed an annual acquisitions budget to acquire works from the exhibition for the National Collection.
This means that selected projects are not only celebrated in the present but may also be preserved as part of Ireland’s cultural heritage for future generations.
Experience the Exhibition
The Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition brings together a curated selection of Ireland’s most significant contemporary design projects, nominated by the nation’s leading design organisations and selected in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland.
Presented as part of Irish Design Week 2026, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the breadth, quality and cultural significance of contemporary Irish design in one place.
From architecture and fashion to craft, product, graphic and digital design, the exhibition reveals how creativity continues to shape Ireland’s cultural, social and economic future.
Event Information
Join designers, makers, industry leaders, cultural organisations and the wider public for the opening of the inaugural Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition and the celebration of Ireland’s most outstanding contemporary design projects.
Wheelchair Accessible • Suitable for All Ages
