Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) announced the 26 winners of the Future Makers Awards 2025.
Future Makers is a platform to showcase the talent of the next generation of makers, designers, and craftspeople looking to take the step from training into enterprise, and it provides them with much-needed financial support. Future Makers covers a wide range of disciplines and recognises vision, innovation and excellence among students and recent graduates.
Celebrating Emerging Talent
Established in 2009, Future Makers is a DCCI initiative which recognises talent, potential and creativity.
- Christopher Tuohy, a furniture maker from Cork, received the 2025 Overall Emerging Maker award.
- Rachel Kenny, a paper maker from Dublin, was awarded the Sustainable Design award.
- Clodagh Nathan, a textile artist and designer from Co. Kildare, was named the Overall Student award recipient.
- In the student and recent graduate sustainability category, Lucy O’Sullivan, a furniture maker from Kildare, received the Sustainable Design award.
- Emmet Bosonnet | Exhibitions | Dublin
- Patsy Atkinson | Exhibitions | Cork
- Karena Ryan | Exhibitions | Galway
- Christopher Tuohy | Studio Support | Cork
- Lydia Smith | Studio Support | Kilkenny
- Desmond Kavanagh | Studio Support | Wicklow
- Mark Newman | Studio Support | Dublin
- Deirdre Murphy | Travel & Training | Galway
- Muireann Ní Sheoighe Eachthighearn | Travel & Training | Tipperary
- Rachel Kenny | Travel & Training | Dublin
- Rachel Kenny | Sustainable Design | Dublin
- Christopher Tuohy | Overall Emerging | Maker Cork
- Harry Jones | Materials | Dublin
- Gerard Boyle | Materials |Galway
- Orla Reilly | Materials | Dublin
- Valeria Schipschi | Materials | Dublin
- Clodagh Nathan | Materials | Kildare
- Aidan O’Brien | Professional Development | Kildare
- Daniel Connor Petrin | Professional Development | Wicklow
- Emma Anako | Professional Development | Wicklow
- Daniel Fitzpatrick | Travel and Training | Limerick
- Lucy O’Sullivan | Travel and Training | Kildare
- Otilia Mahu | Travel and Training | Dublin
- Rosannah Carter | Travel and Training | Wicklow
- Lucy O’Sullivan | Sustainable Design Award | Kildare
- Clodagh Nathan | Overall Student Winner | Kildare
Over the past 16 years, this initiative has given countless designers and makers the opportunity to grow, to be recognised and to push their practice forward with meaningful support. Every year we see work that that is not only inventive and ambitious but also connects to Ireland’s cultural identity.
Peter Burke TD
Minister of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment commented
Prize Fund
It is one of the largest prize-funded design and craft award programmes in Europe, with each winner receiving a mentoring package valued at €2,000 in addition to the award. In total, Future Makers offers an award fund of €25,000 and mentoring package of €52,000 in expert guidance and support to the award recipients.
The calibre of submissions this year was exceptionally high, reflecting the breadth of talent, creativity, and innovation within the sector. The award recipients demonstrate the vision, skill, and commitment that will ensure the continued strength and advancement of Irish craft and design both nationally and internationally.
Mary Blanchfield
CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland
A Showcase of Creativity
This year’s competition saw an impressive range of entries from all around Ireland, each one demonstrating a unique approach to creating beautiful and functional works of art.
From furniture and fashion design to ceramics and glassblowing, the shortlisted makers represent the most innovative and creative young designers and makers in Ireland, across both the student and emerging practitioner categories.
Irish craft isn’t just about tradition - it’s a living, growing way of expressing who we are. The Future Makers Awards, run by Design & Crafts Council Ireland, helps keep that spirit alive.
Leah Capaldi
Artist and Future Makers Awards Judge
Expert Panel of Judges
Judges for the 2025 awards included:
- Victoria Donovan – silversmith with almost 40 years’ experience and recipient of the Kilkenny Design Workshops scholarship in 1986
- Anneliese Duffy Fallon – owner of The Linen Shirt Company and founder of Fashion Connect Ireland
- Leah Capaldi – London-based artist celebrated for her pioneering work at the intersection of sculpture and performance
- Brankica Zilovic – French-Serbian artist and educator based in Paris
- Belén Llamas-Ferrier – art framer with over 20 years of industry experience
- Róisín Pierce – multidisciplinary designer focused on material innovation and poetic forms
