Studio Saol

What becomes possible when we take time to imagine futures together, in place, and in conversation with one another? This was the question the Tomorrow’s University Futures Café was designed to explore. Thank you to everyone who took part in this participatory experiment with such openness, curiosity, and care. The richness of perspectives and the quality of discussion in the room made clear the value of creating shared spaces for collective sense-making and social imagination. These contributions will continue to shape how we think about the role of universities, communities, and place in imagining what comes next. The full project, bringing together insights from the workshop alongside further research and content development, will be launching in the coming weeks. 📷 @aleks.photography.ireland

Join us online from the 12-16th of January for an introduction to regenerative futures thinking, where we will explore how simple foresight tools and regenerative mindsets can help make sense of change and imagine better local futures together. If you want to share your perspectives, explore new possibilities, and learn practical ways to contribute to positive systems change, register through the link in bio.

Happy New Year from all of us at Studio Saol. Thank you to the clients, collaborators, and friends who made 2025 a year full of creativity and opportunity. Le meas — Studio Saol

What role should the university play in enabling more sustainable futures? Join us on the 21st of January 2026 for the “Tomorrow’s University” Futures Café to reimagine how universities and higher education can shape sustainable futures with their local communities. If you want to add your voice, imagine better possibilities, and help prototype new approaches to change, register through the link in bio.

I think it’s important for like-minded people working in design to get together and share perspectives," says @brettomahony Visual Director @studiosaol ahead of ‘Designing Together: Prototyping Better Futures’, the Friday keynote @riamdublin @lara_hanlon from @100Archive who are partnering with us on this event describes the “critical juncture” design finds itself at given current disruptive political and technological challenges. It’s a “really exciting time…I’m very hopeful for the future of design.” Limited tickets available. #IrishDesignWeek2025 #IDW2025

This year’s team retreat took us west to a lakeside home in Kenmare. Stepping back from projects gave us space to reconnect, reflect on our culture and daily practices. We hiked, shared meals, and kayaked through bioluminescent waters as a local guide told stories from Ireland’s ancient past. The retreat reminded us that how we work together matters just as much as what we deliver. Huge thanks to our incredible team for making this years trip so special.

How Do the Futures We Imagine Shape the Policies We Create? From universities to healthcare systems, institutions across Ireland are navigating growing uncertainty and increasing pressure to respond not only to what is, but to what might be. In this short reflection, we share moments from two recent collaborations in which futures thinking helped open up more imaginative, long-term, and systemically minded approaches to public decision-making. Swipe through to see how we’re applying participatory foresight tools in real-world contexts—and why we believe futures thinking should be integral to shaping policy for a more resilient and sustainable Ireland.

What if the next generation of researchers were empowered to lead systemic change? Together with the University of Limerick and YERUN, we co-designed the inaugural Doctoral Winter School with the ambition to do just that. Through design-led tools, systems thinking, and collaborative learning, early-stage researchers from across Europe explored how their work could contribute to systemic change in pursuit of more sustainable futures. Swipe through to see how a transdisciplinary lens can reframe research and expand its impact.

Swipe through for a glimpse of our proposal for the future of Roches Street — co-created through a trader-led collaboration that demonstrates how small interventions, local knowledge, and real-world testing can help shape more liveable futures for Limerick. Click the link in our bio to read the full submission. 📸 by @emitryn

A place of quiet luxury between land and sea, @parkkenmare has been a landmark on Ireland’s west coast since 1897. Under the care of Bryan and Tara Meehan, its next chapter is shaped not just by its elegant spaces but by the creative stories it tells—rooted in community, place, and a cultural dialogue that bridges past and present. Together with Park Hotel Kenmare, we refreshed their visual identity and helped bring Art at the Park to life—their curated collection of contemporary works woven into the hotel’s shared spaces and guest rooms. To deepen this narrative, we designed and produced a companion art book that captures the collection’s spirit, exploring its curatorial vision, the artists behind it, and the ideas it evokes. Featuring works by Dorothy Cross, Sean Scully, Louis le Brocquy, Guggi, Theaster Gates, Park Seo Bo, Andy Warhol, and more, Art at the Park brings voices from Ireland and beyond into dialogue within a heritage setting. The collection reimagines where contemporary art belongs, opening new ways of seeing and experiencing creativity in a place steeped in history. This incredible collection now finds its home on the west coast of Ireland, providing an important platform for contemporary art in the region. Art at the Park invites guests and visitors to explore these works through daily art tours, offering insight into their journey to Kenmare. Copies of the book can be found throughout the hotel for those who wish to delve deeper. It was a pleasure for our team to collaborate with the Park Hotel Kenmare team, special thanks to @bryankmeehan , @holly______moore , Olivia Meehan, Rosa Abbott & Emmy Hicks-Jablons. We look forward to sharing more about our continued creative collaboration with the Park Hotel Kenmare team in the year ahead.

How might participatory design help deliver Limerick’s ambitious Mayoral Programme? With Ireland’s first directly elected mayor, we’re collaborating with Limerick City and County Council to reimagine governance and transform vision into action. Swipe through to explore how this collaboration is shaping a more inclusive, community-driven city. 📷 by @emitryn

What if hospitality could inspire deeper connections between people, place, and the planet? Located along the Wild Atlantic Way, @hotel.doolin is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, warm welcome, and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Inspired by Doolin’s creative spirit and rich legacy as a hub for authentic Irish art and culture, we are collaborating with the Hotel Doolin team to reimagine their visual identity, and guest experiences through a new masterplan of their site. Together, we are looking back to go beyond—honouring local heritage and community while designing a hospitality experience that immerses guests in the unique character of the West Coast and pioneers new standards in sustainable hospitality. We’re excited to share more about our creative collaboration in the new year!