Born and raised in Ireland, Enda Noone’s design sensibilities began to take shape at an early age, owing to his creatively inclined family. In the early 2000’s, while pursuing his masters degree at the University of Dublin, he met the co-founder of his home furnishings, accessories and apparel brand, Ikka Dukka – Nilisha Kohli.

The Irish-Indian brand, founded in 2014, focuses on developing premium hand made products, with a major focus on the gifting market including corporate, wedding and events. They work with highly skilled artisans and help revive traditional craft techniques by interpreting them through a more contemporary and global design language. Their distinctive offerings certainly embody the sentiment attached to the name Ikka Dukka, which translates to ‘one or two’ or ‘rare.’

Here’s what we learned about Enda Noone when we decided to go beyond his beautiful boutique lifestyle brand and design inclinations, to see what really makes a trendsetter like him tick:

What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Sapiens ( Yuval Noah Harari) and Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman)

What television series are you currently watching?
Billions, Get Shorty, Escape to the Chateau, and I am also waiting very impatiently for another season of Peaky Blinders.

A designer who inspires you?
An inspiring designer for me would be the creative chameleon Alexander Girard. He designed everything from buildings and furniture, to dolls and even airline branding. He said, “when you practice in all fields of design, each field benefits from your experience in the other.” That sums up our design philosophy.

An Instagram account that you would recommend?
Musée du Louvre (@museelouvre) and Accidentally Wes Anderson (@accidentallywesanderson)

The one thing in your studio that you absolutely cannot function without?
Music and my leather organiser which holds everything I need.

If you were not a designer, what do you think you would have been?
I’d like to think a film maker, but who knows? The Ikka Dukka film studio will be on the cards at some point in the future I’m sure…

Tell us about a project that you are currently working on.
We have a lot going on. Currently, we are working on a new ceramic line, a stationary collection, candles and incense, and a tea collection, as well as a whole range of various wedding gifting options.

What are you looking forward to the most this year?
Moving to a bigger studio space and opening a physical store.

If you had to summarise your design ethos in not more than 2 sentences, what would it be?
Our ethos is simply to create products that excite us.

Tell us about 3 architectural/design creations (not your own) that you admire most.
Newgrange in Ireland – a 5000 year old Stone Age architectural marvel, which is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun once a year.

Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. A complex and ambitious majestic piece of architectural art mixing together design styles from different periods. It is amazing to think that he started the construction knowing he would never see it finished, like many other greats in history.

In terms of impact on the world due to design I think you have to have admiration for Steve Jobs and Apple. By combining functional technology with beautiful design they have changed the way the world works today.