- Over 65 events set to take place across Ireland to celebrate every facet of design from architecture to fashion, digital design and much more
- Keynote speakers include Australian interior designer and TV personality Banjo Beale; renowned architect Jayden Ali; and President of the World Design Organisation, Pradyumna Vyas
- DCCI Irish Design Week runs from 17-21 November 2025, with five headline events taking place in Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy of Music
- 2025 will focus on the theme: The Ties that Tie and the Links that Link
- Further speakers for 2025 include Laurent Ungerer, Noelle Cooper, RESOLVE Collective, Anthony Burrill, Sinead O’Dwyer, Yuri Suzuki, Anastasiia Fedorova, Sebastian Helene, Johanna Frabin + more
- Programme highlights revealed at IrishDesignWeek.ie
02 October 2025: Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has announced the programme of events for Irish Design Week (IDW) 2025. This year’s event programme will be the biggest yet, with over 65 events taking place across Ireland from 17-21 November 2025. Keynote events run by DCCI in collaboration with leading Irish design organisations will take place in the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, and the programme of events supported by DCCI will be run by organisations and individuals all over Ireland.
Since its launch in 2022, DCCI Irish Design Week (IDW) has grown rapidly while attracting some of the leading voices in global design to Ireland to share the inspiration, process, and purpose behind their work. IDW is also an opportunity to elevate the profile of Irish design nationally and internationally, showcasing its relevance to societal challenges such as climate change, housing shortages, and sustainability.
The programme is led 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) and the 100 Archive. IDW is also part of the World Design Weeks network, linking Ireland to global design hubs.
This year’s theme is The Ties that Tie and the Links that Link. Inspired by the 60th anniversary of Kilkenny Design Workshops, the theme invites us to consider the importance of collaboration in key design moments of the past, present and into the future as we apply it to the challenges and opportunities of today. By connecting Ireland’s design community to global networks, IDW fosters the kind of joined-up thinking and cross-sector creativity needed to shape a more inclusive, sustainable future.
DCCI’s Irish Design Week 2025 will focus on what comes next and how Irish design can lead in areas such as sustainability, technology, storytelling and social impact, while staying rooted in the values of collaboration and craft.
The weeklong programme will include workshops, panel discussions and exhibitions from some of the top voices in the design world, including Australian interior designer and TV personality Banjo Beale; Jayden Ali, one of the leading voices in architecture, and President of the World Design Organisation Pradyumna Vyas.
Mr Vyas’ first job outside India was as an intern in Kilkenny Design Workshops in the late 1980s and he will be one of the keynote speakers to officially mark the start of DCCI Irish Design Week 2025.
Pradyumna Vyas said: “It is an honour to return to Ireland for Irish Design Week 2025, particularly this year which is the 60th anniversary of Kilkenny Design Workshops. The collaborative ethos I experienced when I first came to Ireland has stayed with me throughout my career, and it is inspiring to see how Irish design continues to act as a catalyst for innovation. I look forward to joining the conversation to help inspire the next generation of Irish designers to address the challenges of today with empathy, intent and purpose.”
Each day will also feature a ‘Design Diplomacy’ event in which an Irish designer meets an international designer for a unique curated discussion between two creative minds. This concept was originally developed by Helsinki Design Week and brings together two designers for the first time over a card game of questions. The themes for the Design Diplomacy events are Interior Design & Architecture; Fashion Design; Experience Design; Sound Design, and Communication Design.
The Irish designers featured within the Design Diplomacy strand include Noelle Cooper (Unthink), Eibhlín Albert-Doran (Studio-Doran); Anna Sutcliffe (House of Achill) and Brett O’Mahony (Studio Saol), with this year’s international counterparts including Laurent Ungerer (France), Diane Pernet (USA), Yuri Suzuki (Japan), Banjo Beale (Australia) and Sebastian Helene (Sweden).
Further programme highlights include the prestigious annual Irish Design Awards 2025: presented by the IDI, the awards are a highlight of Ireland’s design calendar, celebrating and showcasing the outstanding achievements of the design community.
DCCI Irish Design Week 2025 will also shine a spotlight on local talent and creativity, with over 30 DCCI-funded events, workshops, and exhibitions taking place across Ireland. The regional programme gives emerging designers, students, and small studios the chance to showcase their work and connect with audiences in their local community, while also being part of a national design movement.
In Limerick, the Emergent Sound System workshop will explore product design through experimental approaches to sound and experience, while in Leitrim, lettering artist Vanessa Power will lead a series of stained glass workshops at Eirlume Studio, inviting participants to create contemporary mosaics that connect people and place through colour, pattern, and storytelling.
In Co. Wicklow, Kunstverein will host the Suppose a Stone event to mark the completion of a multi-year accessibility study of Aughrim town, exploring how design can make local spaces more inclusive.
In Cork, the Fusion Workshop will demonstrate how waste plastic from businesses can be transformed into creative new textiles, while in Kerry, Threads of Connection will unite fashion designers to create a collaborative statement piece.
Other highlights include The Common, a week-long celebration of graphic design in Sligo, and a medtech design conference in Galway examining the future of healthcare innovation. Together, these events showcase how Irish designers are blending craft, community, and sustainability to tackle contemporary challenges.
Launching the DCCI Irish Design Week 2025 programme, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: “DCCI Irish Design Week is Ireland’s flagship celebration of design, showcasing the strength of our creative sector and the vital role it plays in driving competitiveness and sustainable growth. By connecting creativity with enterprise, Irish Design Week opens new opportunities for designers and businesses while reinforcing Ireland’s reputation for talent and innovation on the global stage. The Government is proud to support this event as part of our commitment to ensuring the design sector continues to thrive.”
Mary Blanchfield, Chief Executive Officer of DCCI, said: “Irish Design Week is a flagship initiative for DCCI, and we are proud to see it grow into a national platform that delivers real value for Ireland’s design sector. It not only raises the international profile of Irish design but also creates opportunities for designers and businesses here at home, whether that’s through new commissions, media exposure, or partnerships.
At the heart of this is DCCI’s mission to champion Ireland’s designers and makers, to nurture innovation and sustainable practice and to strengthen the future of the design and craft industries.
What makes Irish Design Week unique is its reach across the country, bringing together local studios and emerging designers as well as established names. Everyone can be part of this national programme that connects creative talent with audiences, funders, and communities.”
Tom Watts, Head of Design with DCCI, said: “Irish Design Week 2025 is our most ambitious yet, with over 65 events across 15 counties. This year’s theme, The Ties that Tie and the Links that Link, celebrates the collaborative spirit that has always defined Irish design while connecting us to global networks and new ideas.
“From world-class keynote speakers to grassroots events nationwide, Irish Design Week is about showing how design can respond to the challenges of today while staying rooted in creativity and craft. We are proud to bring the Irish and international design community together for what promises to be our biggest and most inspiring programme to date.”
Sean McNulty, the Chairman and founder of Dolmen, was also present to support the launch. Dolmen is one of Ireland’s most successful creative design and innovation consultancies, winning multiple Red Dot Design Awards for their work, including for the development of the Guinness Nitrosurge, commented:
“I’m delighted to support the launch of this year’s programme for Irish Design Week. The week is an excellent opportunity for designers and innovators to collaborate and to share their stories and ideas. Ireland has such a rich heritage in design and I’m looking forward to seeing how today’s generation of creatives are building on that tradition to tackle the challenges of our time.”
The DCCI funded programme of events celebrate Ireland’s strong history in design and showcase the many facets of contemporary design and will also encourage local participation in Irish Design Week 2025.
DCCI Irish Design Week 2025 promises to be a celebration of creativity, offering a platform for innovative ideas, sustainable practices and new opportunities. Tickets for most events are now available online and there is more information at IrishDesignWeek.ie
DCCI Irish Design Week is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment through Enterprise Ireland.
