Kilkenny business shortlisted the Irish Business Design Challenge

A Kilkenny company has made the shortlist for this year’s Irish Business Design Challenge (IBDC) by Design and Crafts Council Ireland.

Aoife Lifestyle from Kilkenny is an award-winning luxury fashion brand, and is one of 12 Leinster businesses shortlisted.

Now in its third year, the Irish Business Design Challenge from Design and Crafts Council Ireland showcases companies that are applying design thinking to future-proof their business and support customer needs. This year’s challenge focuses on companies that use design thinking in their business by making them more sustainable and efficient. Over 100 businesses from across Ireland entered with 44 companies shortlisted. The winners will be announced at the IBDC Awards on Thursday, April 13.

The IBDC awards is a competition aimed at micro, small and medium Irish businesses from all sectors and has a prize fund of over €50,000. The judging panel, comprising of Elaine Butler, Circular Design Institute; Gwen Cunningham, Circular Lead, National College of Art and Design; Jamie Maguire, owner and founder of Notions Creative, along with Edwin Jebb, Creative Director at Notions Creative; and Sophie Reynolds, Circular Economy Policy and Innovation Lead, Irish Manufacturing Research, evaluated each entry based on the criteria of sustainability through design in an effort to future proof the business.

Tom Watts, Head of Design at Design and Crafts Council Ireland said: “Innovation and ingenuity in design have always solved problems in businesses. It has been great to see so many businesses use design thinking to solve issues surrounding the environment, making their businesses more sustainable and efficient while prioritising customer needs. These awards showcase the most innovative and efficient MSMEs in Ireland and it has been a pleasure to highlight the shortlisted companies that have achieved this.”

Previous winners of the IBDC Awards include GRÁ Chocolates, Bó Steel, Aqueduct, Notions Creative and Benson Clothing. Business entries to the IBDC are judged across three categories, with a winner chosen in each category: micro, small and medium. Winners will each receive €15,000 and runners up will receive an award of €2,000 each.

The winners and runners up will be announced for each category at the IBDC Awards on Thursday, April 13. For further information on the Irish Business Design Challenge, visit www.dcci.ie/ibdc-2023. 

Shortlist

Aoife Lifestyle
Arran Street East Ltd
Clare O'Connor Luxury Irish Design
Clarkes of Dublin Artisan Bathing and Shaving
Common Knowledge
Ériu
Eurotech Renewables Ltd
Farrell Furniture
Firkail
Green Bubble
GROUND Wellbeing
HaPPE Earth
Iveragh Eco Drums
Izzy Wheels
Laoise Carey Studio
Lilymais
Mamukko Ltd
Metal and Mallet
Monthlies
Native Denims
Omuu Pet
Orla Vera Accessories
Peggy Rain Ltd
Positive Carbon
Primitive Boards
Purple Peach
ReFunk Upcycling Ltd
ReproDoc Ltd
Ríon Hannora
Shock of Grey
Snugibabog Knitwear
Soilse
The Big Idea House
The Factory
The Nappy Market
The Natural Sleep Company
The Upcycle Movement
The Wren Hotel
Love Ireland Gift Co.
VivaGreen
Weird Watercolours
Westcountry Willows
YAWUW
Zeus Scooters.