This February sees yet another great design event coming to Dublin!

IxDA Interaction Dublin runs from February 1st to the 4th in The Convention Center Dublin. 75 speakers, 4 Days, workshops, break out events. Simply unmissable for those involved or with an interest in interaction design.

Workshops include Interface Design, Prototyping, Design Language for Interaction, Accessibility and Gamification.

More here>>

Design is about problem solving and as a designer I have to be proactive about solving problems.

Undoubtedly the biggest problem currently facing Irish society is the economic crisis and the effect that is having on the wider European economy.

I believe Ireland and Europe are at a crossroads. Many newspapers and radio interviews are currently discussing what may or may not happen in Europe, and, more importantly, how will that impact on Ireland?

One possibility is that Ireland would leave the single currency either by choice or otherwise.

That opened a number of thoughts and questions in my mind:

1. If we are seeking to leave the Euro, we would need to plan the exit strategy now
2. What would that currency look like?
3. Who would feature on the new curency?

Being a designer, the first two questions were solved very quickly, because that’s what we do.

The third question required a little more considered thought.

Most printed, or ‘paper’ currency usually features important figures from history, such as artists, writers, poets…. even heros, leaders and patriots. And that lead me to this visual conclusion. An Punt Nua should honour those Irish patriots that helped our country, once again stand proud amongst fiscal nations with her own independent currency.

I considered many people, including Kevin Cardiff, Secretary General of the Department of Finance, former Financial Regulator,  Patrick Neary, Michael Fingleton, former chief executive of Irish Nationwide Building Society and even the late Charles J. Haughey.

I narrowed the list down to the following:
Bertie Ahern
Brian Lenihan
Charlie McCreevy
Brian Cowen
David Drumm
Sean Fitzpatrick

I decided upon former Taoiseach and Minister for Finance Patrick Bartholomew (Bertie) Ahern for his outstanding work as leader of the Irish people in the latter stages of the Celtic Tiger era. I thought long and hard about putting Mr Ahern on a larger denomination note, because I do think he is worth it, however I settled on the £1 Punt Nua note as there will be more of these in circulation that larger notes and with this commonality of note I felt it was more fitting for a common person.

The £5 Punt Nua note features the late Brian Lenihan, Jnr, former Minister for Finance and TD for Dublin West. Minister Lenihan oversaw the introduction of the Bank Guarantee Scheme in 2008 that saw the Irish tax payer foot the bill for the follies of the unregulated financial institutions that have held the citizens of Ireland to randsom for generations to come, while their CEO’s enjoy inflated pay packets and bonuses.

Moving up to the £10 Punt Nua note I have shown a proud Charlie McCreevy, former Minister for Finance and EU Commissioner for Ireland. Mr. McCreevey in is numerous give away budgets helped secure Ireland’s future status within Europe, with encouraging a banking sector to recklessly lend and which initially led to a bubble in the housing sector, and then it’s crash. Many thanks.

Former Taoiseach and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen features heavily (if you excuse the pun) on the £20 Punt Nua note. Mr. Cowen was at the helm of leadership in Fianna Fail and leader of Ireland when representatives of the IMF and ECB came to take away our Children’s futures. Mr. Cowen had the resolve and strength to protected the Irish people from the knowledge of the visit of the Deputy Director of the IMF’s European Department, Ajai Chopra and the agreement that his Government were doing to ensure our fate. As they say “The Nile is a river in Egypt”.

I reserved the most exclusive notes of An Punt Nua for the two people I believe are most patriotic of all the esteemed members of Irish society. Mr. David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank who appears on the £50 Pun Nua and former Chairman, Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick who appears on the £100 Punt Nua.

Both Mr. Drumm and Mr. Fitzpatrick are, in my opinion, who we should be most thankful for in Ireland arriving at the point where we currently are. By telling us that they had money, meant we were all secure in the knowledge that we all had money. Who need audited accounts and balanced books, when we can all merrily carry on with not a worry in the world. But most of all, leaving Ireland at this time of crisis so, we the people, are not disheartened by the look of disappointment and shame on the faces of Mr. Drumm and Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Thanks lads, and on behalf of my future grand children, many, many thanks.

Featured on RTE’s The Saturday Show

Interview on RTE’s The Daily Show

Interview on RTE Radio’s Liveline with Joe Duffy

Featured on Tonight with Vincent Browne

Original TwitPic post >>
Irish Independent article on proposed An Punt Nua design >>
WorldIrish features An Punt Nua design >>
98FM on An Punt Nua >>
Broadsheet.ie >>
The Carlow People >>
The American >>
Article on Forbes.Com >>
India Times >>
Inside Ireland >>
RTE Radio 1 Liveline >>
Graphic Design Info >>
Stone and Strom Investment Management >>
Irish Echo in Sydney Australia >>

Punt Nua in Sydney's Irish Echo

Now on Facebook!
Punt Nua Facebook Page >>

Also on Twitter
@puntnua

Con Kennedy MIDI, Chairman IDI Awards Committee

The 13th annual Institute of Designers in Ireland Awards took place in Dublin’s the Sugar Club on 27th of October. Hosted by television presenter Michael Hayes, the event celebrated the best of Irish design from the past year.

IDI Design Awards presenter, Michael Hayes

An international jury was assembled to evaluate the entries from diverse disciplines as interior & exhibition design, tv/theatre/film design, visual communication design, digital media and product design. One of the highlights of the evening was a Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design in Ireland, which was given to the Pivot Dublin bit team for getting Dublin shortlisted for the ICSID World Design Capital and for bringing an international focus to Irish design.

IDI President, Carol Coffey and Kieran Gallagher Deputy City Architect, Dublin City Council on behalf of Pivot Dublin Bid Team

Brian Stephens, CEO, Design Partners accepting Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2011 IDI lifetime achievement award went to Brian Stephens, CEO of Design Partners who gave a moving talk about working with the late Steve Jobs.

Miele IDI Grand Prix Winners, Honora Egan & Gregory Tobin of Spear Technologies for Read Assist

Honora Egan & Gregory Tobin of Spear Technologies won the Miele IDI Grand Prix award for their product  ‘Read Assist’ which is a tool to help dyslexic children and adults to read with the use of colour overlays.

The Institute of Designers in Ireland is the professional body representing the interests of Irish designers. Its function is to promote high standards of design, to foster professionalism and to emphasise designers’ responsibility to society, to the client and to each other.

Full list of the 2011 IDI award winners can be found here.

I was recently selected by The National Society for Education in Art and Design to present my research into Continuing Professional Development for Communication Designers at the iJade academic conference held in the University of Chester, UK.

This prestigious two-day international conference of art and design education brought people from as far as China and the USA to discuss and debate current pedagogy in education in the creative fields.

More:
NSEAD.org
InAEA

Download the full research on professional development here: http://bitly.com/ejTQoU

We were recently commissioned by RTÉ, Ireland’s National Television and Radio Broadcaster to design a brochure and landing page for their Autumn Season press launch.

The 44page brochure highlights the broadcaster’s upcoming schedule for RTÉ One and Two television stations a long with what viewers can expect in terms of diverse programming.

As designers, one of our considerations is the flow of content, and in this particular case, content was subject to change right up to final approval. To facilitate this a flexible 3 column layout was chosen which meant imagery and texts could be adapted to suit the varying amount of texts supplied.

As with previous years, with content was constantly changing right up to approval, we advised the client to initially deliver the brochure as a PDF file, viewable on their website, and if after they required a printed version, this could be facilitated. This process ensured that the content presented at the press launch was the most current.

The landing page features a page flip document of the brochure, along with options for the user to download their own copy as a PDF file. Another function of the landing page is the use of modal windows for the user to view trailers and clips contained within the one page, and preventing the user from wandering off into other sections of the website.

View here: http://www.rte.ie/tv/newseason

Brasserie Le Point is a new restaurant serving classic French cuisine in an elegant and welcoming setting. Located at the gateway to the Georgian mile, where Fitzwilliam Place meets Leeson Street, Brasserie Le Pont has carved a niche for itself in the market as an exciting, vibrant and popular place to dine – a fuss free restaurant that in no way compromises on taste.

The identity a was developed to express visually and clearly the brand values of the client using clear typography, with a hint of tradition, warm colours with a simple arc to graphically represent the French for bridge. The accompanying website features strong imagery and ease of navigation.

Pivot Dublin Dining Table

As part of Dublin’s bid to become World Design Capital in 2014, the Pivot Dublin bid team organised a dinner to welcome the ICSID delegation to the city and introduce them to some of the vibant and diverse design community here in Dublin.

The dinner was held on the evening of the 21st of July in the reception of Dublin’s Hugh Lane Galley in Parnell Square. A fitting location, presenting the city’s art collection and directly facing Michael Biggs’ glorious typographic stone carvings in the Garden of Remembrance. The meal brought a close to the first day of the official ICSID judges visit to Dublin.

As the evening was a pop up event, all guests were requested to bring their own chair! Which proved to be both a challenge and an impromptu conversational piece! Some brought their own design prototypes, others customised chairs, I however had two meetings that bookended the day and was traveling by train, therefore my solution was more pragmatic one… I had a fold up chair!

Our host for the evening was Dublin City Architect and organiser of Dublin’s bid, Ali Grehan, who welcomed ICSID judges, Martin Darbyshire and ICSID Secretary General, Dilki de Silva.

The dinner table was designed by Jonathan Legge and was made by Orla Reynolds, Fionnuala Coffey, Mark Cosgrave and Barry Sheehan. Simply decorated, it was great example of problem solving and ingenuity in it’s design.

“You are now in the midst of a design community and the rest of the world is looking at Dublin.” Dilki de Silva

Among the 50 or so guests were Dubin’s new Lord Mayor, Andew Montague and luminaries of Dublin’s creative community such as Conor Clarke from Design Factory; Andrew Kavanagh from Kavaleer Animation; Mary Doherty from Red Dog; Sean O’Laoire,Architect; Dr Linda King and Dr Annie Doona from IADT; Ré Dubhthaigh from Radarstation; John Walsh from MADE adn the Institute of Designers in Ireland; Toby Scott from Pentacle; Illustrator, Bren B; Owen O’Doherty from Dublin City Architects Office, and of course, Bob Grey from Red and Grey and Architect Emma Curley who designed and co-ordinated the Pivot Dublin bid submission.

The meal was prepared and presented by Bord Biá and was simply suberb! Starter was Dublin Bay Prawns (naturally!), followed by Lamb for main course and a finished off with a delicious raspberry tart for desert.

The evening was a full of wonderful conversation and clearly demonstrated to the ICSID delegation the diverse and active design community we have in the capital and how many independent creative groups and individuals are fully supportive of Dublin being designated the World Design Capital 2014. The discourse and discussions were so engaging that once ejected from the Gallery, we simply continued on Parnell Square – after all, we had our own chairs!

You can show your support for Dublin to become World Design Capital by following @pivotdublin on twitter or by liking PivotDublin on Facebook.

Michael Biggs' uncial carvings in the Garden of Rememberance

"Have yis no home to go to?!" - Post-dinner Creative chit chat!

More reading:
http://www.pivotdublin.com
http://www.worlddesigncapital.com
http://www.icsid.org
Judges visit Dublin to assess city’s World Design Capital 2014 bid

The third in the series LogoLounge Master Library focuses on Shapes and Symbols and contains over 3000 brand identities from the world’s leading design agencies.

We are proud to say that identities we designed for our clients Picturebox and Refresh have been published in this book.

This is the second international design book that we’ve been featured in this year, following inclusion in Logolicious published by Harper Collins.

Purchase this book on Amazon

http://www.logolounge.com

Wednesday 29th June 2011 is ICSID World Industrial Design Day and to mark the occasion, DIT and the G6 Series together with Pivot Dublin are hosting a day long workshop in The School of Art Design and Printing, DIT, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.

Starting at 09:30 and finishing at 17:00 this FREE workshop is open to all and will explore the World Industrial Design Day theme:

Industrial Design: How does it improve your life?

We will be examining this question under the four themes from Pivot Dublin bid to make Dublin World Design Capital in 2014:

Connecting Cities, Making Cities Lighter, Making Cities Flow and Making Cities Smile

The event is free, designers and anyone interested in design is welcome.

Please contact email barry@sheehan.ie 00 353 87 259 2546 if you would like to attend.

Click here to download the brochure.

This year’s Design Week is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 1 November to Sunday 6 November and we would love it if you would take part!

Even though the official forms for sending your final Design Week 2011 content/imagery for inclusion in the official brochure and website are not due until Friday 29 July 2011, the Design Week 2011 organising committee would greatly appreciate if you would send them a quick update, with your intentions/plans for an event, or events, during the week (or either ‘side’ of the week). An email will be sufficient admin@designweek.ie

For your convenience, I also reattach the full list of terms and conditions for sending your final Design Week 2011 content/imagery for inclusion in the official brochure and website [dw2011_content_spec.doc; dw2011_pro_forma.doc], to be returned to us no later than Friday 29 July 2011. Please disregard this email if you have received it in duplicate/error.

Contact Barry Sheehan, Design Week 2011, c|o Room 240, School of Art, Design & Printing, Dublin Institute of Technology, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 for further details and application forms.

More:
www.designweek.ie
Twitter