Winners Of Future Makers 2016 Announced

With a total prize fund of €24,500 for 2016, Future Makers Awards & Supports is one of the biggest award programmes in Europe for students and emerging makers and is one of a number of Design & Crafts Council of Ireland initiatives supporting emerging talent. Divided into student and practitioner categories, the annual programme rewards the next generation of Irish creatives at a critical stage in their career, helping them develop an exciting future in Ireland’s vibrant craft and design industry.

This week, DCCoI announced 30 emerging designer-makers as this year’s winners during a presentation ceremony at Dean Dublin. The Future Maker of the Year Award of €5,000 was shared between two Dublin-based practitioners – fashion designer Edel Traynor and furniture designer Simon Doyle.

Following an initial call out in early March, DCCoI received 168 applications, the largest number of applications since Future Makers was first launched by DCCoI in 2009, reflecting the growth and development of the programme and the high level of interest from emerging designers and makers. All applications were assessed by a judging panel including internationally renowned designer makers Michael Eden and Sasha Sykes, resulting in a short list of 76 for the final assessment and subsequently the selection of 30 winners and recipients.

For more information, visit futuremakers.ie.