Designers fired up by traditional craft and skills in Callan

Acoustic insulation from waste wool, bird feed from orchard by-products, a bench that doubles as sports equipment and even furniture created from the stale bread at a local bakery - these are just some of the innovative ideas emerging from a special design project in Callan.

From the traditional ways of life, farming and business that have gone on for generations a group of talented design students have drawn the inspiration for products and materials of the future - including a product that has won a European Green Product design award.

These ‘Future Town Products’ have the potential to transform the local economy while embracing the principles of the circular economy, education and community involvement.

Local businesses including Keogh’s Bakery, Riversfield Farm, Highbank Orchard and Suzanna Crampton’s zwartble sheep farm helped design students from Central St Martin’s College in London to bring this project to life when they hosted the group, earlier this year.

ABOVE: Students visited Highbank Orchard where they met Minister Malcolm Noonan and owners Rob and Julie Calder-Potts. A visit inspired ‘Birds of Callan’ by student Jess Lee - a workshop to teach children about wild birds and how to make nutritious bird cake using apple co-products. Picture: Harry Reid

Several months on, the students have produced an array of designs inspired by their time in Callan - everything from community food boxes to innovative products using what, until now, was regarded as ‘waste’.

All this work has taken place as part of the ‘Future Town Products’ strand of the ’Til Now project.

The aim of the ’Til Now project is to bring together community groups and agencies with a creative team of architects, producers and designers to develop new ideas and explore how rural towns can adapt and change in the face of the challenge from future climate needs.

Bringing the students to Callan last March allowed them to spend a few days immersed in the local community. They met local producers and explored the area, to get an understanding of what resources are in the area and how they might be used in the future.

They were accompanied by award-winning system designer Kaye Toland and Dr Jane Penty, an educator and sustainable design consultant.

From the creative minds of the students have emerged gems of ideas that could create extra funding streams for businesses, and bring new products to market, to benefit the local community.

For details of all the projects go to @futuretownproducts on Instagram.

Along with the Future Town Products strand, ’Til Now also has a public realm strand, looking at the creation of outdoor, social gathering spaces and including fruit tree and hedgerow planting.

The design aspect is being led by Studio Weave, an architectural practice that specialises in building new connections between materials, history and culture, and in conjunction with the local community.

’Til Now is a Climate Action Fund II project funded by Creative Ireland and produced by Ait Productions, with support from Callan Town Team and Kilkenny County Council.