Design initiative to mark Year of Craft

YESTERDAY SAW the launch of Designer Dublin, an initiative to mark 2011 as the Year of Craft featuring designers working in fashion, jewellery, millinery ceramics and photography joining forces for the month of June.

For the programme and craft directory, see designerdublin.ie.

Meanwhile, Dublin’s bid to be designated World Design Capital in 2014 was officially launched yesterday at the Mansion House by lord mayor Gerry Breen and Dublin city architect Ali Grehan.

The designation is awarded every two years by ICSID (International Council for the Society of Industrial Designers) to cities that use design as a tool for social, cultural, economic and environmental progress.

An ambitious collaboration between the four Dublin local authorities, the Dublin bid, pivotdublinie, is supported by the Government and Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton was presented with a copy of the impressive 416-page bid document.

“This is a visionary concept,” said Mr Bruton. “Dublin is doing ordinary things in new ways, making dramatic changes to people’s lives and opening up markets where none were there before. This is a great opportunity to put Dublin on the map.”

Chief financial officer of Dublin Port Michael Sheary, one of a number of business people who attended the launch, welcomed the bid for its tourism potential and said more than 80 cruise liners with 160,000 people are booked into Dublin Port this summer, a growing visitor phenomenon worth over €35 million in spend for the city.

“It is a small part of Dublin Port business, but it is a very big boom for the city in terms of the economy,” he said.

After Turin won the designation in 2008, it received more visitors than it did when it hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.

The Irish bid showcases designers working at home and abroad across a range of disciplines from product, graphic and fashion design to architecture, animation, film, gaming and interactive media.

Fifty-five cities including Beijing, Capetown and Bilbao, are competing and the shortlist will be announced on June 6th after which ICSID representatives will visit the shortlisted cities during the summer.

The winning city will be announced in October.