Farrell Furniture in Ardee shortlisted for Irish Business Design Challenge

Farrell Furniture in Ardee has been shortlisted for this year’s Irish Business Design Challenge (IBDC). Now in its third year, the Irish Business Design Challenge from Design & Crafts Council Ireland showcases companies that are applying design thinking to future-proof their business and support customer needs.

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. This year’s challenge focuses on companies that use design thinking in their business by making them more sustainable and efficient. 

Farrell Furniture is one of 44 companies shortlisted for this year's challenge, with the winners to be announced at the IBDC Awards on Thursday 13 April. It was founded in 1961 by brothers Ollie and Paddy Farrell, and is is now in its third generation, undertaking ambitious commercial and residential projects across Ireland and the UK.

The company sees itself as one that for more than 60 years, has combined traditional expertise with dedicated service, sustainable methods and materials and innovative design-led thinking, earning a reputation as market leader in designing, manufacturing and fitting the highest quality commercial office and contract residential furniture.

The judging panel for this year's IBDC, comprising 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 & 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 13 April. For further information on the Irish Business Design Challenge, visit www.dcci.ie/ibdc-2023.