A Meeting Of Minds At Design Week Dublin

Six leading interior designers came together for a lively round-table discussion, sharing the thinking, influences and ideas behind their work with an audience of design students, enthusiasts and industry peers …

There was an energetic buzz in The Malt House as six of Ireland’s leading interior designers gathered for an evening of conversation, insight and exchange. Bringing together Maria Fenlon, Susan McGowan of Ashen & Cloud, Grania Murray, Geri O’Toole, Louise Rankin of North Design and Eilish Rickard, the Design Round Table offered an opportunity to look beyond the finished spaces and into the creative thinking that shapes them.

With audiences ranging from design students and emerging creatives to seasoned enthusiasts, it was proof that design is for everyone. The discussion moved freely between process, inspiration and the realities of working in interiors today. Each designer brought a distinct perspective, from Maria’s serene, art-filled interiors and Susan’s character-rich approach to Grania’s relaxed Californian influence, Geri’s considered blend of classic and contemporary, Louise’s sophisticated family homes and Eilish’s warm, luxurious renovations.

In addition to hearing from all six designers on stage, each then moved to sit at round tables with DWD guests, allowing questions to flow and ideas to bounce, offering much more personal perspectives. It made for a particularly engaging conversation, with the audience getting a rare glimpse into the instincts, influences and decisions that sit behind some of the country’s most considered residential interiors.

For Design Week Dublin, in partnership with Range Rover, it was the first time experimenting with this format and it proved a particularly effective one. The conversational set-up encouraged a sense of openness and immediacy, while the enthusiasm of the audience added to the atmosphere. For those in the room, it was as much an exchange of ideas as it was an opportunity to hear from six established designers.