Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has announced the programme of events for Irish Design Week 2024.
- KidSuper, Lesley Lokko, and Sir David King among keynote speakers
- Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s Irish Design Week brings together the Irish and international design community
- Over 40 events to take place across Ireland exploring the theme ‘Imagination for Opportunity’
- Irish Design Week to take place from 11-15 November 2024
The weeklong programme will include workshops, panel discussions and exhibitions from some of the leading voices in the design world, including Irish-American fashion designer KidSuper (Colm Dillane); Lesley Lokko, founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute (AFI); leading Dutch graphic design firm THONIK co-founders Thomas Widdershoven and Nikki Gonnissen, and Sir David King, head of the Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG).
The theme for Irish Design Week 2024 is “Imagination for Opportunity”. The programme will promote potential solutions to challenges with discussions around innovative, creative solutions to global issues such as the climate emergency, the housing crisis and social inclusion are many and varied.
Each day will also feature a ‘Design Diplomacy’ event in which an Irish designer meets an international designer for a unique curated discussion between two creative minds. The concept was originally developed by Helsinki Design Week and brings together two designers for the first time over a card game of questions. The themes for the Design Diplomacy events are Interior Design & Architecture, Fashion Design, Experience Design, Climate Design Entrepreneurs, and Communication Design.
The Irish designers featured within the Design Diplomacy strand include Oisín Lennon, founder and Chief Executive of Danu Sports, graphic designer Joanne Byrne, and designer and educator Lara Hanlon. International designers that will feature include Dutch designer and architect Lars Courage, and German virtual reality designer Cordula Hansen.
Launching the Irish Design Week 2024 programme, Tom Watts, Head of Design with DCCI, said:
“I am delighted that this year’s Irish Design Week will feature a strong mix of global thought leaders in the design space and innovative Irish designers, building on the continued success and growing impact of previous years. Irish Design Week continues to evolve with a broad and dynamic programme, reflecting the increasing importance of design in Ireland and internationally. This year, we see even stronger participation from the design community, including exciting new collaborations with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Designers Ireland (IDI), and the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF), alongside many other partners.
The main programme will be hosted in the Whyte Recital Hall at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), a stunning venue that perfectly complements the creative energy of Irish Design Week. Additionally, the programme of third-party design events, supported by DCCI, will continue to grow, expanding across more venues and regions, ensuring that Irish Design Week 2024 reaches even more diverse audiences and inspires fresh ideas nationwide.”
Irish Design Week 2024 will also place a spotlight on local designers and creativity throughout the country with 33 DCCI-supported events, workshops, and exhibitions taking place in 14 counties across Ireland.
The Dining and Designing event in Limerick will welcome people to a 3-course dinner in Limerick’s School of Art and Design and will include a variety of talks relating to the dining experience, including architecture, interior design, ceramics, textiles and furniture design.Creatives in Sligo can design their own DIY album cover, while in Longford, participants can learn traditional millinery skills.
Exhibitions will celebrate women in Irish illustration, showcase young Irish fashion designers, and shine a light on the wonders of wool.
The programme of events celebrate Ireland’s strong history in design and showcase the many facets of contemporary design and will also encourage local participation in Irish Design Week 2024.
DCCI Irish Design Week 2024 promises to be a celebration of creativity, offering a platform for innovative ideas, sustainable practices and new opportunities. Tickets for most events are now 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]
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
