SETU hosted Design Impact Week 2026 at its Kilkenny Road campus in Carlow, bringing together students, staff, industry partners, and the wider community for a vibrant programme of exhibitions, talks, and collaborative events.
The week celebrated the creativity, innovation, and real-world impact of design, while creating valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.
Design Exhibition and 55-Year Celebration
A key highlight of the week was the Design Exhibition held in the Haughton Building, marking the 55th anniversary of the Product Design programme at SETU. The exhibition featured a wide range of student projects from across design programmes, including work in areas such as equine care, smarter travel, medical devices, and virtual reality.
Centred on the theme of Impact, the exhibition celebrated the programme’s five decades of long-standing legacy. Visitors explored graduate work now recognised in industry, highlighting its wider influence.
"This week has been a real pleasure seeing Design undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and staff coming together to celebrate Design here is SETU. This Product Design programme has proven its importance through impact locally, regionally and nationally over the last six decades.
A lot of products that surround us today, that we take for granted, come from our alumni. Design education here in SETU's Kilkenny Road campus in Carlow is second to none and I would like to send an open invite to industry, parents, secondary school students and teachers to come visit us and see what kind of career the world of Product Design will afford you"
Hilary Dempsey Programme Director of Product Innovation Design, SETU
Student and Research Showcases
The week featured student presentations that showed the journey of learning in the design programmes. Undergraduates highlighted skills, industry experience, Erasmus opportunities, and competitions, while postgraduate students showcased advanced projects
Interactive Design postgraduate students presented their work, demonstrating how design methods support creativity, critical thinking, and user-focused solutions. The programme included a design-led PHD research showcase with staff and current researchers, sharing experiences and encouraging students to consider research as a future direction. A panel discussion on AI and Creativity explored how artificial intelligence is influencing creative fields and engaged attendees in thought-provoking discussion
Industry and Alumni Engagement
As part of Design Impact Week, SETU’s ongoing collaboration with regional and national partners was showcased during Industry Day. The Industry Day showcased SETU’s ongoing collaboration with regional and national partners. The Industry Breakfast gave attendees the chance to discuss projects, placements, research opportunities, and professional development. Against the backdrop of the exhibition, industry guests connected directly with students and staff and saw the quality of work on display.
The week concluded with Alumni Talks, where graduates shared their career journeys across areas such as industrial design, engineering, user experience (UX), and service design. These talks highlighted the diverse pathways available to graduates and the real-world impact of a design education.
Design Impact Week 2026 highlighted the strength, creativity, and relevance of design at SETU, reinforcing its role in shaping innovation and future careers.
