Leading national and international designers and organisations come together for Irish Design Week 2024

11 November 2024: Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has today kicked off Irish Design Week 2024, a week-long programme of over 40 events nationwide.

This year’s programme, under the theme ‘Imagination for Opportunity’, includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and a series of Design Diplomacy talks, taking place at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin.

DCCI Irish Design Week will see leading industry voices, including Irish Architecture Foundation, Illustrators Ireland, the 100 Archive, and the Institute of Designers in Ireland, come together for the first time, to highlight the transformative potential of design. This collaboration aims to elevate Irish design through inspiring funding of opportunities, insightful discussions, and creative explorations that amplify design’s role in addressing social, environmental and economic challenges.

Mary Blanchfield, Interim CEO, DCCI, commented: “ Design is at the core of Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s strategy, reflecting our commitment to fostering innovation, sustainable growth and creativity. We’re so proud to bring Irish Design Week to the public and collaborate with esteemed partners including Ireland Architecture Foundation; Imirt and Eirmersive; the 100 Archives and the Institute of Designers Ireland. As well as the fantastic line up of distinguished speakers, both national and international, that will drive the impact of Irish design into the future. We look forward to a week of collaboration, inspiration and most importantly progress, in showcasing the pivotal role design plays in shaping our country’s future for generations.”

Tom Watts, Head of Design at DCCI, welcomed the collaborative effort of DCCI Irish Design Week:

“Irish Design Week 2024 provides an important platform to champion the Irish design community. By bringing together some of the leading voices across Ireland’s creative sectors, we can create a space that encourages new ideas and creative thinking to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Each organisation brings its unique expertise and vision, creating a programme that reflects Ireland’s rich history in design and will lead a new way forward for contemporary design.

The cross-industry collaboration for Irish Design Week is an important one. We’re not only highlighting the talent within each sector, but we are also demonstrating how different areas of design can connect and inspire new ways of thinking. It celebrates Irish design and demonstrates the role Irish design plays in innovation and global influence.”

Irish Design Week to feature a diverse programme of events

The week-long programme will play host to a number of thought-provoking speeches and panel discussions from world-leading designers. Among the topics for discussion are keynote sessions that aim to tackle some of today’s pressing topics, including climate adaptation, housing, digital transformation, and social inclusion.

Discussions will feature prominent figures in the international design space, including Irish American fashion designer Colm Dillane founder of KidSuper; Sir David King, head of the Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG); and Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute (AFI), among others. Additionally, Irish Design Week will spotlight emerging designers, offering a platform to showcase their work and connect with potential investors.

Irish Design Week 2024 will also offer a unique opportunity for participants to engage in the highly anticipated Design Diplomacy talks at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. These talks will see an Irish designer paired with an international designer for a curated discussion centred on a particular theme. These themes include Interior Design & Architecture, Fashion Design, Experience Design, Climate and Entrepreneurs, and Communication Design.

With events spread across Ireland, DCCI Irish Design Week is accessible to all, inviting established designers and those new to the industry to celebrate creativity, offering a platform for innovative ideas, sustainable practices and new opportunities.

Tickets for events are available online and there is more information at https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week/

DCCI Irish Design Week is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland.

ENDS

For media queries, please contact Eimear Harding, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Design & Crafts Council Ireland at [email protected]

Issued by Murray on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland

For further information, contact:

Martin Phelan

087 246 7106

[email protected]

Anna Dwan

087 292 3180

[email protected]

Notes to editors

About Design & Crafts Council Ireland

Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is the national agency for craft and design in Ireland, we support designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of craft and design. DCCI’s activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 64 member organisations and over 3,600 registered clients.

www.dcci.ie @dccireland

About Irish Design Week

Convened by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland, DCCI Irish Design Week focuses on why design matters and highlights issues around sustainability, diversity and inclusion.

Exploring the theme ‘Imagination for Opportunity’, a wide range of talks, workshops and exhibitions take place throughout Ireland over the course of Irish Design Week. A chance for designers to showcase and highlight ideas and innovative solutions for the opportunities we face as an Island and globally. The DCCI programme of keynote events in collaboration with some of Ireland’s most prominent design bodies, innovative businesses and international embassies features leading Irish and international design voices. Together with the many emerging and existing designers hosting a kaleidoscope of events around the country, Irish Design Week promises a super-charged celebration of design that will inspire, ignite and engage existing and new audiences. We need action and design is the key.

 ENDS

@DCCIreland

@irish_designweek

#IrishDesignWeek

#IDW24

Programme of Events

Third Party Events can be viewed here: https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week-2024/irish-design-week-programme-of-events-2024/