IRISH DESIGN 2015 MAKING DESIGN MATTER
SO: The question of what role Irish design plays both in Ireland and in the Andrew global B:context The issues was the the design startingsector point faced of our 15 ownyears creative ago journey were poor in Designing promotion Ireland. of the benefits If you had of to design describe in a Irish business design andtosocial someone context, from abroad the lackwhat of a would Government you say? Design We have Policy a clear articulating image the in our value head of when the we think contribution of Scandinavian of designdesign to the country’s – minimalism, economy, natural and materials lack of intervention and a simple colour by the palette state to–support but is there companies such atothing bothasmanage the Irishand design engage style? designers. And how does ID2015 it connect has successfully with the people addressed outside the Ireland? promotion Initially, issues, weboth thought locally we would and internationally, find the answers and succeeded straightawayiningetting the global design success on theofGovernment’s our architects, crafts agenda people and the andpublication designers of of Ireland’s recent years. first design A quietpolicy designinrevolution over 50 years seems means to exciting have taken times place ahead.with so many of our contemporary designers winning awards, accolades and prestigious design competitions. But we quickly ID2015realised has provided that the leadership, answer was which far was morelacking complex in the andsector, could as be well found in as our galvanised understanding the sector of context to work–together whethertowards that’s history, a collective culturegoal or place. of This promoting is where theIrish value designers the design bring sector something contributes unique to to thethe Irish global economy. worldI of Irish woulddesign like to–see theyfuture understand initiatives theencompass importancedesign of place, ledand activities place such making, as and brand this strategy has setand them design apartmanagement. from many other designers worldwide. ABr: AM: We’ve I think all Sandra’s heard absolutely about the right. history In an of increasingly Irish craft, literature globalisedand world, the where arts but everyone I wonder is chasing if you can quality describe, and value, or even it can define, be hard what to place distinguish Irish one design product has had or one in the service context fromof another. globalFrom design. furniture Has ittohad hotels a place to cars, or is there it nowismoving a constant toward sameness. creating In aa global place?context, I believe Irish design has the potential to deliver more personality and attitude in a product or service. LK: I think Irish that designers the greatest do not contribution try to please Ireland everyone has had andtoare theconfident broader in design themselves. community I don’t is through think Irish emigration. design has In found effect its Ireland voiceexported just yet, but a large I believe proportion thatofasitsthe design globaltalent economy particularly movesinfrom the mass 1980s, production early 1990s towards and more from 2007 individually onwards. produced However, items, more Ireland’s recently reputation many young for personality graduates have will be more been in choosing demand.to emigrate, not because of shortages in employment, but because of personal ambitions to work with international companies they LK: admire. We Many are allof familiar our graduates with the notion from the of Visual heritage Communication and legacy in Design Irish culture. programme How at farIADT, backfor does example, Ireland’s have design takenheritage this route reach? and can Thebe historical found span working of Irish in design design hubs is subjective including as New it depends York, London, on a Berlin, coupleAmsterdam of factors and including Toronto with definitions practitioners of what whocomprises are worlddesign leadersactivity, in theirwhen respective that emerged, fields. and It willhow be interesting ‘Ireland’ is defined. to see ifDesign this generation practicesreturn are generally to Ireland understood and what to have impact emerged this will in have theon 19th indigenous century as design a consequence development. of the application of art to industry and the growth of mass-produced objects for consumer markets. SO: The At question this point, of what Ireland rolewas Irishpart design of Britain plays so both it could in Ireland be argued and in that autonomous the global context Irish design was the practices starting did point notofemerge our ownuntil creative the foundation journey in of the Designing State inIreland. 1922.If you had to describe Irish design to someone from abroad what would you say? We have a clear image in our head when SO: we think I think of we Scandinavian can go further design back – than minimalism, that to explore natural materials Irish design andculture a — simple we can colour go all palette the way – but back is there to prehistoric such a thing timesasand thethe Irish construction design style? of our Andstone how does forts itand connect passage withgraves. the people outside Ireland? Initially, we thought we would find the answers straightaway in the global success of AB: our architects, Yes — in Designing crafts people Ireland, andwe designers visited the of Aran recentisland years.ofAInis quiet Meáin, design where revolution architect seemsMary to have Laheen taken showed place with us one so of many the of earliest our contemporary and most iconic designers forms winning of Irishawards, designaccolades expression: and theprestigious dry-stone design wall as competitions. used in a prehistoric But we quickly fort and realised fieldthat boundary the answer walls.was Today, far we more maycomplex think ofand the could drystone be found wallsin as oura understanding ‘romantic’ part of of the context Irish – landscape, whether that’s however, history, theyculture were one or place. of our This earliest is where design Irishresponses designers–bring and something quite ingenious unique – to the harsh global coastal world ofenvironment: Irish design – acting they as understand wind-breakers, the importance clearing land of place, for farming and place and creating making, and boundaries this has for setfields them and apart rural from road many systems. other designers worldwide. Andrew B: I think Sandra’s absolutely right. In an increasingly globalised world, where everyone is chasing quality and value, it can be hard to distinguish one product or one service from another. From furniture to
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“In a global context, I believe Irish design has the potential to deliver more personality and attitude in a product or service.”