Local design firm nominated for two major international awards

A retail design company based in Mount Temple is this week celebrating the news that it has been shortlisted for not one, but two, prestigious international design awards!

Rigney Forge, which was set up in 2020 by Mount Temple native, Peter Rigney, has been nominated in the highly competitive categories of ‘Store Design of the Year’ at the 2023 Popai Awards and the 2023 Creative Retail Awards for its work on a state-of-the-art London supermarket, Kavanagh’s in the affluent north-west London suburb of Belsize Park.

Peter Rigney credits his former secondary school, Moate Community School, and his art teacher, Pamela Keogh, with fostering and encouraging his interest in art and says it was “a hugely creative environment” in which to be a student.

He took part in numerous art competitions during his time in Moate Community School including the Coca Cola ‘Form and Fusion’ Design Awards, which was the precursor of what is now known as Junk Kouture. “I would have to say my appetite for art and design was really whetted as a student in Moate Community School, which has a proud tradition of fostering creativity,” says Peter, who is the son of Pat (Patricia) and Peter Rigney from Mount Temple.

Having set up his own design studio in Dublin following his graduation from the National College of Art and Design, Peter Rigney decided to return to his native Mount Temple from where he now runs the Rigney Forge design company from an office located beside the family home he shares with his wife, Amy, who works as a textile designer, and their two young children, seven-year old Millie and Jake, who is 5.

Making the decision to move out of Dublin and return to Mount Temple has been a real success story for the Rigney family, and Peter says his two children are “very happy” in the local primary school, An Grianán.

With the advent of remote working, he says he can work with clients and companies “anywhere in the world” and can hire designers to work remotely on specific projects when required. “We have only two full-time staff, but I really think there is a great creative culture in the Midlands at the moment, which is a very encouraging trend.”

Rigney Forge is up against very stiff competition in the Popai Awards for its work on Kavanagh’s supermarket in Belsize Park in London, including design agencies which have huge workforces and have been in business for more than 40 years.

Kavanagh’s is described as being a “truly independent, premium food offering combining the look and feel of a compact supermarket and a world class food emporium.”

The state of the art supermarket includes a sushi bar; juice bar; patisserie counter; wet fish counter and an on-site kitchen that prepares numerous fresh food dishes.

Throughout the design process for the supermarket, Rigney Forge worked closely with Noel Kanavagh Snr and Jnr (who own the Westport-based Kavanagh Group) to create a bright and inviting retail experience using the latest in cutting edge design.

Since opening its doors to the public for the first time in December 2022, Kavanagh’s Belsize Park has enjoyed huge year-on year growth. Speaking about the success of the venture, Noel Kavanagh Jnr it has “exceeded expectations” and feedback from customers has been “overwhelmingly positive.”

He was also generous in his praise of Rigney Forge and said the “ store design, brand, and in-store communication from Rigney Forge are critical to creating our unique store experience."

The design of Kavanagh’s Belsize Park, which is nestled between Hamstead and Camden in north-west London, was recognised in the two international design award nominations for its “premium supermarket experience, offering unique and varied food choices while strongly emphasising sustainability.”

Peter Rigney spoke of his “incredible pride” at having been nominated for two prestigious international design awards and said he is “honoured to represent Ireland and Mount Temple” on the international retail design stage.

”We are a small team of designers and I believe our personable relationship with our clients allows us to create unique stores, like Kavanagh’s, that work for their customers” he added.

The 2023 Creative Retail Awards take place on September 21 while the 2023 Popai Awards take place on October 3, and both awards ceremonies will take place in London.