18th March 2015
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today announced the Global Irish Design Challenge as part of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015).
International callout for designers to create interpretations of contemporary Ireland announced by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
ID2015 is a year-long Government-backed initiative exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design throughout Ireland and internationally in order to drive job creation, grow exports and increase competitiveness. Through a programme of events and activities engaging the public, the design community and businesses both in Ireland and internationally, ID2015 aims to highlight the very best of Irish design in almost every form, reflecting the diversity of Ireland’s vibrant design sector.
The Global Irish Design Challenge invites designers of Irish lineage, or those with a strong affiliation to Ireland, to use their skills to provide solutions to a range of design challenges by creating a 2D or 3D object which reflects their interpretation of contemporary Ireland. The challenge’ aims to:
• Activate and bring visibility to Irish designers at home and abroad
• Raise awareness of ID2015 globally
• Change the perception of Irish design internationally
• Engage with the breadth of the Irish diaspora
• Create vision and narrative from multiple perspectives of contemporary Ireland
Minister Bruton made the announcement in Paris where he is participating in the Government’s Saint Patrick’s Day programme. “Irish Design 2015 aims to promote the very best of Irish design, supporting Irish businesses in selling their goods and services in competitive foreign markets and ultimately creating jobs at home. The Global Irish Design Challenge reaches out to designers in Ireland and around the world, bringing visibility to the importance of design and positioning Ireland as a design-focused, creative economy on the international stage,” he said.
On-line entries for the Global Irish Design Challenge will go live in April and run until September 2015, after which a high-profile international panel of experts will assess submitted entries with the announcement of selections planned for November 2015. The panel will be asked to select the top entries, and ID2015’s ambition is that an exhibition of the selected work will travel to several international locations during 2016. For further information and to submit an expression of interest, visit: www.irishdesign2015.ie/globalirish
Commenting on the announcement, Laura Magahy, Executive Chairman of ID2015 said: “We welcome the Government’s support of Irish Design 2015 and are delighted to be working with our partners in delivering an extensive programme of events throughout the year highlighting the importance of design in enhancing our lives, our environment and our society while promoting Irish design and designers. Through the Global Irish Design Challenge we ultimately wish to create a strong vision and narrative out of multiple perspectives of contemporary Ireland, which will be showcased at home and abroad next year as a legacy of Irish Design 2015.”
Paris is one of several international design capitals in which the work of emerging and established Irish designers is being showcased as part of the ID2015 programme. Earlier this year, the first Irish Design pavilion was presented at the premier annual trade fair Maison et Objet, featuring new work including several exciting collaborations between Irish makers and internationally renowned designers. From 12th June to 12th July, the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris will host “Side by Side”, an exhibition of contemporary work from the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s PORTFOLIO programme which features makers selected by an independent panel for achieving excellence in craftsmanship, design quality and technical skill by comparative international standards.
ID2015 is being convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), in collaboration with partner organisations, on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland. The initiative aims to:
• Create 1800 jobs over three years through sales of design-led products and services
• Generate an additional €10m in design-based exports
• Generate 200 new design-led business start-ups
• Facilitate more than 300 companies in international trade missions and design based trade events
• Engage with an audience of over 3 million at home and abroad
As part of ID2015, Dublin has been designated World Design Hub 2015 by the International Association of Designers, providing Ireland with a platform to promote the skills and creativity of Irish designers to a worldwide audience. The exciting programme presents the work of Irish designers at high profile international events in design capitals including London, Paris, Eindhoven, Milan, New York, Chicago and Hong Kong/Shenzhen.
ID2015 will see over 300 design installations, conferences, exhibitions, talks and more take place on the island of Ireland and at global design events. The best talent in Ireland across a broad range of design disciplines - from product and industrial design, architecture and design engineering to fashion, costume and set design, animation, gaming and ICT design – will be profiled throughout 2015.
ENDS
For further press information please contact: Aoife Smith, Sorcha Furlong or Tara Walsh at Elevate PR on 01-6625652 or aoife@elevate.ie / sorcha@elevate.ie / tara@elevate.ie
Notes for Editors
About Irish Design 2015
Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) is a year-long initiative backed by the Irish government exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design throughout Ireland and internationally in order to drive job creation, grow exports and increase competitiveness. Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, is Patron of Irish Design 2015 and the initiative has been included in the Irish Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. ID2015 is being convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), in collaboration with partner organisations, on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland. ID2015 partners include Founding Partners - MCO Projects; Accommodation Partners - The Doyle Collection; Venue Partners - OPW; Exhibition Partners – DAA; Technology Partners - IBM and Media Partners – The Irish Times. To learn more, visit www.irishdesign2015.ie
About DCCol
The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) is the main champion of the design and craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. The mission of DCCol is to promote and stimulate the creative and commercial potential of Irish design and craft and to work in collaboration with strategic partners in the ongoing development and growth of the sector. To learn more, visit: http://www.dccoi.ie
To join the conversation and learn more, follow ID2015 on social media:
Instagram @irishdesign2015
Twitter @irishdesign2015
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Irishdesign2015
#ID2015 #irishdesign
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