(Andrew Ludick in collaboration with Ceadogán Rugs as seen at Liminal during Milan Design Week.)
Government-backed initiative Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) has launched a global competition for designers with a connection to Ireland that will reward innovative products, projects and concepts that have “the potential to revolutionise the way we live.”
(Silvair Control, a small handheld Bluetooth device to control household appliance such as lighting by Design Partners and Seed Labs Inc as seen at Liminal during New York Design Week.)
The competition is open to Irish designers, those of Irish descent or even designers with simply “a strong affiliation to Ireland,” although it is not entirely clear what counts as a strong affiliation. “We have had people applying claiming their love of Guinness makes them eligible,” joked Acting Chief Executive of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, Brian McGee. But applications, which can be in any stage of development, should address global challenges through innovative design.
(Causeway by Irish design consultancy Design Partners.)
Launching the initiative, Minister Ged Nash said: “The Global Irish Design Challenge will raise awareness of the strategic importance of design for Ireland’s future, including [its role in] helping to address societal and economic challenges, and will strengthen Ireland’s reputation internationally. It will bring together the Irish design diaspora to help build a design-focused, creative economy on the international stage.”
(Mourne Milano Rug by Mourne Textiles, and Frame Chair and Hang Table by Notion and Mourne Textiles as seen at Liminal during Milan Design Week.)
The competition comes on the back of an international programme of design events including Liminal in Milan and New York, and Ó at Tent London as part of the London Design Festival. While these events focused on Ireland’s craft heritage, and Ireland’s presence at London Festival of Architecture earlier this year showcased the Irish built environment sector, the Global Irish Design Challenge is squarely focused on design innovation.
(Whackpack furniture as seen at Ó as part of Tent London during the London Design Festival.)
“We wish to create a strong vision and narrative of Ireland,” said Karen Hennessy, ID2015’s Chief Executive, “positioning the country at the cutting-edge of design thinking and practice.”
(Moocall by Dublin-based innovation consultancy Dolmen is a calving sensor that detects movement and monitors cows labour in the field.)
ID2015, which is described as an “island of Ireland” initiative, has been convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and various partner organisations, and has in its sights the creation of 1800 new jobs in the design industry over three years, an increase of €10m in design-based export increases, and the generation of 200 new design-based start-ups.
(London School of Economics student centre by Dublin-based architects O’Donnell + Tuomey.)
Online entry for the Global Irish Design Challenge is open until 30 November 2015. An international panel of design experts will select winners to be announced in January 2016 and it is ID2015’s ambition that an exhibition of the selected work will be launched in Dublin as part of the 2016 celebrations for the centenary of the foundation of the Irish state.
(County Mayo-based Superfolk exhibiting at Ó as part of Tent London during the London Design Festival.)
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: made by michael
- interview :: nordvink
- interview :: james molkenthin
- interview :: richard hardy
