Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, announced on Thursday that she will establish a National Design Forum which will drive Ireland’s capability and reputation as a source of design innovation.

“Innovation gives companies and products their competitive edge and design is the piece that makes products distinctive, valuable and desirable,” Mitchell O’Connor said. “We have a well-deserved reputation for international quality science, research and product development. We need to enhance the value of products and services to the customer by adding in the highest design values, improving functionality and user experience.”

The Design Forum, chaired by Minister Mitchell O’Connor, will comprise of businesses, Government agencies, third level colleges, design practitioners and design organisations, and will make recommendations to Government, to Departments and to Agencies.

“I want this Forum to make a concerted effort to develop design capability in Ireland and to drive greater design-based innovation in the business sector, thereby supporting job creation and export potential,” said Mitchell O’Connor at the launch of Ireland – The Design Island, a consultation paper towards a National Design Strategy.

This Paper was compiled by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland at the request of the Government, following the Year of Irish Design (ID2015) which promoted the value of design and Irish design capability both nationally and internationally.