Kilkenny to host first ever Irish Design Excellence Awards

Kilkenny is set to host the first ever Irish Design Excellence Award presentation as part of Irish Design Week.

The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), in partnership with the National Museum of Ireland, has revealed the projects nominated for the inaugural Irish Design Excellence Award (IDEA), celebrating the breadth, quality and cultural significance of contemporary Irish design, as part of Irish Design Week (IDW) 2026.

The new awards initiative, which will take place at the National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, on November 7, brings together projects nominated by leading Irish design organisation recognising work that demonstrates design excellence, innovation, impact and contemporary relevance.

The winning creative project of the IDEA Jury Prize will receive a prize fund of €15,000. The IDEA National Collection Acquisition will be awarded by the National Museum of Ireland with a purchase fund of up to €10,000.

From architecture and product design to graphics, advertising to digital experiences, and service design, the exhibition offers a unique snapshot of contemporary Irish creativity, showcasing the extraordinary breadth and depth of Ireland’s creative sector on the world stage.

Announcing the shortlist, Mary Blanchfield, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: “Today marks a significant step in recognising Ireland’s talent, expertise and craftsmanship. With the introduction of the IDEA award, we hope to encourage designers, makers and creatives to continue pushing boundaries, innovate and challenge the world around us. The standard of submissions for the inaugural award was exceptional, setting the bar remarkably high. Design & Crafts Council is proud to support an initiative that ensures Irish design is both celebrated and recognised. Congratulations to all nominated projects.”

Dónal Maguire, Keeper of the Art and Industrial Division at the National Museum of Ireland, said: “The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, is proud to partner with DCCI and to recognise and celebrate Irish design in its diverse forms and functions. The Museum’s collections reflect the creativity, craft and innovation that has shaped Ireland’s design heritage and the IDEA awards are a unique opportunity to highlight these qualities in contemporary design practice. The Museum’s IDEA acquisitions will grow the national collection as a broader expression of human creativity and as source of inspiration to future designers.”

The nominated projects will form part of the inaugural Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition at the National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, opening on November 7 as part of DCCI Irish Design Week 2026. The exhibition runs until January 23, 2027.

The winner of the IDEA award will be announced on Saturday, November 7.

Irish Design Week takes place nationwide with events open to the public from 7-14 November. The full programme and ticket information are available at www.irishdesignweek.ie.