Nordic Inspiration → Irish Design

Kaj Franck, the“conscience of Finnish design” was an influential author of a report that caused controversy and helped to shake up Irish design-thinking in the 1960s.

Kilkenny Design Workshops

In 2023, the Embassy celebrated 60 years since the establishment of the Kilkenny Design Workshops by the Irish Export Board.

Nordic design expertise

The workshops provided a space for research and design thinking to be shared and to flourish and they helped to redefine Irish design culture and identity. Nordic design expertise was a critical input to the early success of the workshops. The Embassy plans to continue promoting our shared design connections in coming months and years.

>> Read about the establishment of the KDWs Designing For Ireland

An important influence on the establishment of the Kilkenny Design Workshops was the report called ‘Design in Ireland: report of the Scandinavian Design group in Ireland’. This came to be called the ‘Scandinavian report’ though it should perhaps have been called the ‘Nordic report’.

Kaj Franck was one of the five expert members of the group from Finland, Sweden and Denmark that produced the report and he brought his expertise in glassware and ceramics to the fore. The report called for a total re-imagining of design education in Ireland and caused much debate on its publication.

Following the report, Franck worked with the Arklow pottery factory in Ireland in 1962, as part of design exchanges between our two countries.

Irish design in Finland today

Exchanges between Finnish and Irish design institutions and designers continue today. To mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Ireland, in 2022 Irish and Finnish design students took part in a competition to design the official logo commemorating that milestone.

The Embassy of Ireland also takes part in the annual Design Diplomacy events, which form part of Helsinki Design Week. In recent years we have welcomed Irish creative designers Kevin O’Dwyer and Oscar Torrans to share their process and work with Finnish design professionals. We are always happy to hear of ways to further our connections so if you would like to discuss some ideas then reach out and contact us.

Pictured: Afzelia Bowls designed by one of Finland’s most internationally renowned designers, Bertel Gardberg, 1966.(Collection National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) NCAD, Dublin)