The Material That Connects

The Ties That Tie, and the Links That Link: A Student–Industry Collaboration in Design

As part of Irish Design Week 2025, TU Dublin and Merenda present a panel discussion and exhibition celebrating collaboration between students, educators, and industry.

In response to this year’s theme, “The ties that tie, and the links that link”, TU Dublin students were challenged with a real-world brief: to design seating or accessories for a new Dublin café called Link. The project asked students to integrate sustainability, functionality, and storytelling into their prototypes, while drawing inspiration from the café’s name as a symbol of connection.

To support this process, students worked with ALPI veneer, a material developed with international designers that bridges tradition and innovation, craft and technology, and local practice with global design. As both a surface and a symbol, the veneer offered an ideal medium for exploring how material-driven design can foster connections across disciplines, generations, and cultures.

The panel will bring together:

• Students, presenting their creative journeys and prototypes
• Academic mentors, reflecting on the learning and design process
• Merenda, sharing how industry partnerships can open new opportunities
• Guest voices from the wider design community

Together, they will explore:

• How young designers interpret themes of connection in their work
• The role of veneer material in storytelling, linking craft, sustainability, and innovation
• Why collaborations between education and industry matter for the future of Irish design
• How Ireland’s design community can engage with international Partnership

📍 Location: TU Dublin, Grangegorman
📅 Date: Thursday 20th November, 6–8pm
🎟️ Admission: Free and open to all

Join us for an engaging discussion and exhibition showcasing how the next generation of Irish designers are building creative links across disciplines, cultures, and communities — with their ideas brought to life through innovative use of ALPI veneer.

Info: Guest panel of design professionals, TU Dublin lecturers, Merenda & ALPI representative.

Discussion on student projects, material exploration, and the theme “The ties that tie, and the links that link”

Info: 13:00: Event closes

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

TU Dublin, East Quad, Grangegorman Lower, Dublin 7, Ireland

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