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Talented duo Ahmad Fakhry and Cian Corcoran, making a stir in Ireland as Design Goat

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Words by Helen Parton

Who

Ahmad Fakhry and Cian Corcoran are Designgoat, meeting at NCAD in Dublin where they both studied industrial design. Says Fakhry: 'A few successful college projects together coupled with our desire to stay and work in Dublin resulted in us starting the studio in 2011 after we graduated.'

Gray influence: 'Gray Chair' was response to a brief for a exhibition in the National Craft Gallery of 100 objects that have influenced Irish history. Fans of Eileen Gray, Designgoat's duo chose her Non-Conformist chair. Gray's use of tubular steel was translated into solid ash dowel glued at joints to resemble the welds as commonly seen in Gray's work.

They have similar approaches to design, he adds: 'We both like things to be as simple as they can, with meticulous detail. However, we have different skills in different areas that allow us to be more dynamic.'

Why
At the 2013 edition of Tent London, they showed as part of the Vernacular exhibition by the Crafts Council of Ireland. Designgoat presented a chair inspired by Eileen Gray's 1926 Non-Conformist Chair. 'This came about from a commission from the Crafts Council of Ireland's National Craft Gallery.

Museum pieces: After closing for renovations in 2012 the Irish Museum of Modern Art wanted to re-open its doors with a lobby that would invite their patrons to relax and browse. Designgoat produced a furniture collection that features solid ash and steel panels, with cushions by Lucy Clarke from children's clothing label Si & Lu to complement the collection's material and colour palette.

We were asked to respond to one of the entries from the book "A History of Ireland in 100 Objects". That original design was for an exhibition in Kilkenny where the process of the creation was documented and displayed.

That first prototype was then developed for London and is now a finished, functioning product,' says Fakhy. Designgoat has had a busy year. Says Corcoran: 'We developed a furniture range for the lobby of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. We also designed a new cafe in Dublin, plus some exhibition designs.

Woolly thinking: The Woollen Mills is a new restaurant in Dublin city centre. Fakhry and Corcoran say they were delighted to be part of this project that 'brought new life to a landmark building'. A range of furniture including seating and tables was developed using a palette of just tubular steel, plywood and oak, catering to the 'needs of a busy restaurant while remaining elegant'.

Our Gray collection was produced as a small batch run at Indigo & Cloth for Design Week Ireland, which was its first point of sale.'

Where
wearedesigngoat.com