GRADUATES from across Limerick and the Mid West have been putting the region on the map with a string of achievements highlighting the creative talent in the area.
Students, teachers, and researchers in the region are part of the Forge Design Factory at Limerick School of Art and Design.
The Forge Design Factory is an initiative of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and the University of Limerick, partnering with local authorities in Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary.
Clare native Michael Stewart’s ‘Standing Ground’ made waves, stealing headlines at London Fashion Week.
Mr Stewart, the designer behind the label that has dressed Beyoncé and other A-listers, graduated from LSAD in 2013, and recently won the prestigious LVMH ‘Savoir Faire’ award. This €200,000 award acknowledges excellence in craftsmanship and innovation within the fashion industry, marking a huge milestone for the designer.
Knife makers Hugo Byrne and Sam Gleeson are currently representing Ireland at Homo Faber 2024 in Venice. The pair, based in Limerick and Clare respectively, are part of the exhibition curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, UL Product Design and Technology graduate Olivia Humphreys has recently won the 2024 Irish Dyson Award for her ground-breaking design Athena.
Inspired by her mother’s experience with cancer, Athena is a portable, battery-operated scalp-cooling device designed to prevent hair loss in chemotherapy patients. Unlike traditional devices, Athena offers patients greater mobility and ease, providing up to three and a half hours of cooling on-the-go.
Rebecca Marsden, manager of Forge Design Factory said that these four Mid West designers and craftspeople are inspiring innovation worldwide.
“The recent achievements of Michael Stewart, Hugo Byrne, Sam Gleeson, and Olivia Humphreys highlight the breadth of design talent in the region, with designers drawing on the staggering beauty of the Mid West for inspiration, choosing to further their education here, and representing Ireland on the global stage with cutting-edge design,” Ms Marsden said.
“These four designers and craftspeople, in particular, are contributing to a global dialogue on the value of innovation, sustainability and human connection through design. It’s a wonderful testament to what can be achieved when the conditions are in place to allow talent like this to flourish,” she added.
