Design of the times as all roads lead to creative Cork

Cork will be creative central this summer as a trendy festival returns to the city. Following its hugely successful debut in Cork in spring 2019, Design Pop, Cork’s new design and food celebration, is whetting appetites for its return from May 22 to May 24.

Six designers and six food producers will join forces to unleash their ideas in six pop-up pavilions, while exhibitions, talks and workshops will also get people talking and thinking.

Design Pop brings together leading Irish designers to create pop-up installation structures which will go on display in various locations across the city over three days.

Each designer is paired with a Cork-based food or drink producer to create a bespoke space which the public is invited to explore and interact with.

The 2019 edition saw designers Shane O’Driscoll, Alan Macilwraith, Fíor Studios, Meitheal Architects, Conor Merriman, and Alex Pentex team up with food specialists Banana Melon, Good Day Deli, All Full up, My Goodness, Soma and Applebee Cakes.

The new pairings for the 2020 festival will be revealed in the coming weeks, confirmed festival organisers.

As well as the tempting new design and food trail across the city, the festival also hosts a jam-packed programme of events which will take place both within the designed structures and in more unusual spaces around Cork allowing artists, creatives, food stylists, producers, designers, and makers, to discuss and showcase their work processes. “The weekend is truly a celebration of innovation, creativity and Cork. Save the date now: May 22-24, 2020,” said festival director Amy McKeogh.

Ms McKeogh, an architect with a master's degree from University College Cork, described Design Pop's first year as “a huge success and a wonderful experience for all involved”.

“Design Pop celebrated Cork, design and food in new and exciting ways. I am really looking forward to seeing how we build on the success of last year and to see what is created this year by all the talented collaborators,” she said.

“Our ambition is to make Design Pop the number-one cultural, creative and design-led event in Ireland and it seeks to establish Cork as the heart of it all.”

Stay tuned as the full line-up will be revealed in the coming weeks. Join the mailing list to be one of the first to hear about what the festival has in store: www.designpop.ie

If you would like to sponsor the festival, or volunteer throughout the weekend, contact the team at [e-mail]