Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, announced today that she is to 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,” said Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

“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,” continued the Minister.

The Design Forum will focus on an agenda that will deliver on that objective and make recommendations to Government, to Departments and to Agencies.

The Forum will comprise businesses, Government agencies, third level colleges, design practitioners and design organisations.

The Forum will be chaired by Minister Mitchell O’Connor.

“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 the Minister.

The Minister was speaking 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 very successful Year of Irish Design (ID2015) which promoted the value of design and Irish design capability both nationally and internationally. It is the product of an extensive consultation with the business sector, the design sector, design practitioners and organisations, and the third level sector.