News & Events

Minister Nash welcomes the start of ID2015 – the year of Irish Design

Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD is welcoming the start of ID2015 – a year of Irish Design. This is a year-long programme aimed at promoting and celebrating Irish design, with a strong focus on creating sustainable jobs, creating new design start-up companies and growing design led exports.

1st January 2015

Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash TD is welcoming the start of ID2015 – a year of Irish Design. This is a year-long programme aimed at promoting and celebrating Irish design, with a strong focus on creating sustainable jobs, creating new design start-up companies and growing design led exports.

ID2015 is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Minister Nash said, “There is a fantastic programme of events taking place right around the country during 2015 both north and south of the border as part of ID2015.”

“There is a chance for every county in Ireland to play an active part in ID2015 through activities like the Design Innovation Fund, which will see funding provided to innovative design organisations, education providers and others like design hubs to run networks, hold cutting edge events, or host exhibitions and workshops.”

The first round of the Design Innovation Fund has been awarded with 126 successful applicants from eleven counties. A second round of funding for community led events will be issued in March.

Alongside the national programme of events, there will be a distinct focus on job creation, growing exports and increasing competitiveness.

ID2015 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

 

Minister Nash continued, “Showcasing Irish design will be a huge part of ID2015. But, hand in hand with that, we have ambitious targets to create high quality jobs and new start-up companies. Increasing design-led exports will be done through bringing the best of our design companies on targeted trade missions abroad and to high profile design events.”

Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design and Craft Council of Ireland said, “We welcome the Government’s support of Irish Design 2015, demonstrating their commitment to developing the Irish design sector together with us and our partners. We look forward to a comprehensive programme of activities that will engage people throughout Ireland. Events throughout the year will highlight the importance of design in enhancing our lives, our environment and our society, and encourage investment to develop the design sector into the future.”

 

ID2015 is being convened by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland.

Details of the national and international programme for ID2015 are available at www.irishdesign2015.ie 

ENDS

For more information contact:

Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, 01-6312200 or press.office@djei.ie 

Deirdre Grant, Press Advisor to Minister Nash – M: 086-048 4279