Niamh Barry joined some of the biggest names in global design when she was awarded Best Product Design at the Créateurs Design Awards 2023 in Paris.
Shouldering Table by Niamh Barry. Photo: Nigel Swann
Niamh Barry joined some of the biggest names in global design when she was awarded Best Product Design at the Créateurs Design Awards 2023 in Paris. Barry is both an artist and a designer, and her name is synonymous with lighting design and sculptural lighting.
In a departure from the lighting sculpture that she is best known for, Barry’s winning design, Shouldering Table, is a piece of sculptural furniture made from solid, hand-formed bronze, with blue patina on the hand-hammered legs and a dramatic mirror-polish finish. The term ‘shouldering’ references the action of fishermen carrying the traditional Irish currach boat to the sea on their shoulders. It is a further exploration of the form, following on from Barry’s ‘Vessel Scapes’ series of 2017.
The Créateurs Design Awards are an acknowledgement of and support for architecture, design, art, photography and journalism, with the intention of highlighting extraordinary work in each category. Submissions from 48 countries were evaluated and voted on by a panel of 300 design leaders and international press, all members of the Créateurs Design Association.
Barry’s Shouldering Table was chosen as a piece of outstanding product design. In his introduction, designer and previous winner Cristián Mohaded described excellence in product design as that which ‘has the ability to evoke emotion and memories and bring beauty, innovation and new perspectives to our lives’.
Barry does not shy away from exploring new directions. She studied ceramics at NCAD, before transitioning to metalwork after graduation. She is a pioneer of the use of LED in her work and is one of the most sought-after creators of light sculpture internationally.
This prestigious award is recognition of her design capabilities and marks a truly impressive start to the creation of a new body of work.
Susan Rogers
Photo of Niamh Barry by Al Higgins
