A souvenir speaks of experience. Whether buying them to capture your own memories, or as a reminder of the unique culture and feel of a place, a souvenir should always have a history behind it. As part of Irish Design 2015, Jonathan Legge of Makers and Brothers set out to match-make local craftsman with designers. Eventually, nine functional Irish mementos were born, forming 'The Souvenir Project'.
During London Design Festival, the Rochelle School in Shoreditch was taken over by peat boardgames, posh pom-poms and a range of other slightly more conventional items. The term 'souvenir' tends to conjure up something more akin to a glittering four leafed clover key chain – this project reclaims the term, commemorating the history of local craft instead of commercialisation.
Inspired by the layered landscape of west Galway, the 'Measc Muddle' souvenir incorporates layers into its design and function. While Galway's landscapes are made up of sea, stone and grass, the Measc Muddle's layers are reserved for Irish red clover, boy myrtle and Irish whiskey (the key ingredients to classic Irish cocktail, the Móin Bhui). The measurements are indicated by the different heights of the brushed brass and local sycamore wood components of the muddle's shaft.
There are three Irish versions of the saying 'it's raining cats and dogs', each indicating a different type of rain. Crystal vases made by J Hill's Standard and cut with illustrations of these celebrates the colloquial nature of the nation's language.
The diverse rock formations around Ireland mean that farmers have built their walls to be in tune with their local geological resources. As you travel through the Irish countryside a pattern emerges in the stone walls; Superfolk designed prints to mimic this in their trio of kitchen linen cloths, printed by Print Block.
Each of these objects, despite being new collaborations, has a unique heritage tied to local customs and culture. Next time you're looking for a holiday souvenir, know that an Eiffel Tower replica made in China may no longer fit the brief.
‘The Sally’ is a decorative pom-pom created with off-cuts from The Tweed Project’s 'Blanket Coats', which are made in Ireland
Three crystal vases form a souvenir called 'Naming Rain'. Different glass cutting techniques are used on each to create the impression of three kinds of rain
'Stone Wall Patterns' is a collection of prints on linen inspired by the mortar-less walls in the Irish countryside. Each region has unique geological formations, and the way the walls are built tend to reflect this. This souvenir is made up of three different formations
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Makers and Brothers and Irish Design 2015
-
Glenn Sestig brings his fashion-infused design to a French Riviera flagshipThe Belgian architect is the creative force behind the modern-meets-Mediterranean design of shoe label Morobé’s new store in Saint-Tropez
-
Stay in a pastel-hued Puglian palazzo as it starts a new chapterA haven for the design-minded, Palazzo Daniele reopens following a thoughtful restoration by Milan-based Studio Palomba Serafini
-
‘As an artist, I’ve never felt more useful than now’: Steve McQueen on his monumental film screening in AmsterdamThe film director on why now felt like the right time to screen a previously unseen 34-hour version of his 2023 documentary ‘Occupied City’, on the façade of the Rijksmuseum
-
These benches are made from £2.5m worth of shredded banknotesYou could be sitting on a fortune this London Design Festival, as the Bank of England Museum explores the creative repurposing of waste with furniture made from decommissioned banknotes
-
Material Matters: Grant Gibson reflects on his popular design fair, about to open at LDF 2025As Material Matters returns to London Design Festival from 17-21 September, we catch up with founder Grant Gibson to learn more about crucial material conversations in contemporary design
-
London Design Festival 2025: live updates from the Wallpaper* teamFrom 11-21 September, London is celebrating design in all its forms. Here's the latest news, launches and other goings-on from London Design Festival 2025, as seen by Wallpaper* editors
-
A family home turns into an immersive exhibition space for London Design FestivalCeramicist Emma Louise Payne displays design in domestic surrounds for group show ‘The Objects We Live By’
-
Ramzi Mallat’s London Design Festival installation is a bittersweet ode to BeirutCreated as a memorial to the 2020 Beirut Port Blast, Mallat's ‘Not Your Martyr’ installation at the V&A (until 19 October 2025) is made of 260 colourful glass ma’amouls
-
A travelling exhibition of chairs hits the road for London Design Festival 2025Organised by Design Everything, ‘A Seat at the Table’ travels to different venues in the city, where the chairs support communal events
-
Norman Foster and nine other architects design birdhouses for charity – you can bid‘Architects for the Birds’ is spearheaded by Norman Foster and the Tessa Jowell Foundation to raise funds to improve treatment for brain cancer. Ten architect-designed birdhouses will go up for auction
-
The David Collins Foundation celebrates creativity in all its forms at London Design FestivalThe David Collins Foundation presents ‘Convergence’ at the Lavery during London Design Festival 2025 (on view until 19 September), featuring works from the Arts Foundation’s annual Futures Awards
