Ciarán McGuigan on Reimagining Irish Design, from Orior to The Malin

Ciarán McGuigan grew up on the factory floor of Orior, the Irish luxury furniture company his parents founded in 1979. Decades spent immersed in the design world, watching his father and his family’s makers bring each piece to life, gave him an intimate understanding of craft long before he ever set out to lead it himself. After a brief period as a professional football player and a degree studying film at SCAD, McGuigan returned home to take the reins as Orior’s Creative Director, carrying forward his father’s vision while pushing the brand into new territory.

But McGuigan’s ambitions extended beyond furniture. Drawing on his family’s ethos of taking time for others, he saw an opportunity to bring that same spirit of craft and care into hospitality. The result was The Malin, a members-only coworking network that has since expanded to nearly 20 locations across the country. We spoke with McGuigan about his path from the factory floor to the founding of The Malin, and how his two worlds have become one continuous expression of the same philosophy.

Tell us about your background, and your first exposure to design, interiors, and the art of creating a space.

I grew up in the design business. My parents founded Orior, a luxury furniture company in Ireland, and throughout my childhood I was always in the mix, whether on the factory floor or sitting alongside my father as he designed furniture. It was really more than just the family business; it was our community and a way of life.

Was design something you were always interested in, or did it evolve over time?

My first love was football. I played professionally for a brief stint, but I always knew that eventually I wanted to join the family company. My parents were adamant that I first earn a degree in something outside of design, which ultimately took me to SCAD on a scholarship, where I studied film. It was there that I met my wife, as well as several of the people who now work alongside me in leadership roles at Orior and The Malin. That foundation in team sports, combined with the opportunity to explore creative disciplines beyond design, proved incredibly valuable. It gave me a different perspective when I eventually returned to Orior and the confidence to reimagine what it could become.

Orior was founded by your parents after they returned from building furniture influenced by Scandinavian design. What did you inherit from that experience, and what have you evolved since taking over as Creative Director?

I really came to understand that it takes a village to create beautiful, heirloom-quality products. Ones that can be passed down from generation to generation. Our makers are phenomenal, and ultimately, it all comes down to them. Every design we create is challenged, refined, and ultimately perfected through their handiwork. Many of the men and women on our factory floor today have been with Orior since the beginning, and they’ve passed their knowledge and craft on to the next generation. They’re the true masters of what we do, and that continuity of skill and experience is something incredibly special.

Ireland isn’t always the first place people associate with luxury furniture design. How has being rooted there shaped Orior’s identity, and what do you think sets Irish craftsmanship apart?

We’ve really pushed the brand to expand the idea of what Irish design can be today. For more than 40 years, the artisans and craftspeople in our workshops have been producing furniture that stands toe-to-toe with the world’s leading design brands from Copenhagen to Milan. That level of excellence in craft comes first and foremost. My father also created an incredibly timeless collection that gave us a strong foundation to build upon. Today, our design studio includes myself, Jordan Trinci-Lyne and Jean Morana. We work within the vernacular that my father, Brian, established, while continually pushing the aesthetic forward through an ongoing dialogue with our makers. The pieces are progressive. Some are designed to make a statement, while others are quieter, building blocks for a room. What connects them is a strong exploration of mixed materials, bold forms, and color.

What role do local Irish materials play in your work, and how do you source and pair them with imported European leathers, woods, and stones?

Irish Green Marble is a core material in the collection. Sourced from Connemara, it’s one of the world’s oldest stones and something we’re incredibly proud to incorporate into our work. Orior Rouge from Armagh and Orior Limestone from Kilkenny also feature throughout, alongside Irish crystal, allowing us to draw from Ireland’s incredibly rich natural materials and craft traditions. At the same time, we source materials from around the world to give our clients choice, particularly because so much of what we produce is made to order. The goal is never to use Irish materials simply for the sake of provenance, they need to work beautifully within the piece. Ultimately, everything has to come together seamlessly.

When you’re designing a new piece, where does the process usually start?

It often starts with the material and a conversation with our makers, as well as exploring new shapes and existing pieces to see how we can introduce new ideas. Right now, we’re focused on the simplicity of wood and drawing on the generations of craftsmanship that Orior was built on. With the next collection, we’re embracing a more linear language of clean lines and simple forms, letting the quality of the material and the craft speak for themselves.

What is the story behind The Malin? Where did the idea originate, and what were you hoping to create with it

For years, our factories have produced furniture for many of the world’s leading members’ clubs and hotels. I’ve long wanted to enter hospitality; at the heart of our family business is the idea of taking and making time for others. Coming out of the pandemic, I saw a clear opportunity to bring that philosophy to a high-end coworking environment, and The Malin was born. We knew we could create interiors at a level of quality that was largely absent from the category. Because our design and manufacturing are fully integrated, we’re able to work with exceptional stones, woods, leathers, and textiles, while adapting residential-style furnishings to the practical needs of the workplace, from integrated power to other technology.

The result are spaces that have the warmth and quality of a beautifully designed home or members’ club, but functions seamlessly as a place to work. We then layered in a team coming from many of the world’s leading hospitality brands. Our members’ names and coffee orders are remembered, we are paying close attention to the details, including florals, snacks, aromatherapy… our product is meant to inspire ambitious professionals to do their best work.

Why do you think a space like The Malin was missing in New York, and why did it feel necessary to create it?

Prior to the pandemic, the category was dominated by big-box operators focused on rapid growth, and it’s difficult to maintain a high level of quality at that pace. We saw an opportunity to invest in the environment and service at a level that others simply weren’t. At the same time, while members’ clubs could offer beautiful spaces, they weren’t necessarily designed to be conducive to serious work. We clearly struck a nerve. Our original location on Mercer Street in SoHo began as a single floor; today, we occupy four floors plus the rooftop. We’ll soon have eight locations across New York and nearly 20 across the country. What’s been most rewarding is seeing that growth happen without compromising the quality of the experience that made The Malin resonate in the first place.

How do Orior and The Malin relate to each other? And what can guests expect from experiencing the space?

Orior and The Malin are distinct brands, but as part of the same group they share a common set of principles around quality, craft, and creating something truly irreplaceable. While we don’t typically use Orior pieces within The Malin, that same commitment to considered design and exceptional quality carries through in how we approach each workspace. Members can expect beautifully appointed environments designed with a singular purpose: to work exceptionally well. We’ve been deliberate about maintaining that focus, creating spaces that naturally attract high-performing entrepreneurs and professionals across a wide range of industries. The community that has emerged around The Malin wasn’t something we manufactured, but rather a natural result of creating an environment for people with like-minded sensibilities.

Who are your main sources of inspiration on your day to day?

My team really fuels me. From the craftspeople on the workshop floors in Ireland and the Orior design team to my leadership group in New York, I’m surrounded by people who constantly challenge me to see new possibilities. We push one another every day to think differently, identify new opportunities and continually raise the bar.