Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has urged micro, small and medium-sized businesses to apply for the Irish Business Design Challenge.
Now in its fourth year, the competition celebrates businesses that add value, repurpose products, develop eco-friendly practices, enhance efficient and tackle societal and environmental challenges through sustainable design.
Businesses can apply until Sunday, 14 July, and this year’s challenge has a prize fund of over €50,000.
The jury will select 12 entries for the shortlist, and the chosen businesses will then record a video pitch, in a professional studio, that will be shared with the judges.
The judges, including Elaine Butler, founder of Cicular Design Institute and Lucy Campbell, strategic communications and network lead at CIRCULÉIRE will then choose one winner and one runner up for each category (micro, small and medium).
The panel also includes fashion designer Róisín Pierce; Glynn Griffiths, head of sustainability at PA Consulting; Nessa Doran O’Reilly from Rediscovery Centre, and Natalie B Coleman from NCAD.
“This is the fourth year of the Irish Business Design Challenge. It has been hugely inspiring to meet with the businesses that have emerged through this programme and to create a national platform for their endeavours,” said Rosemary Steen, CEO of the DCCI.
“They are led by people of vision, creativity and commitment who are pioneering the principles of sustainability and circularity that are essential to the progress and growth of Ireland. We are encouraging any medium, small and micro businesses to apply for the awards to help add more value to your business and to be recognised for the hard work you are already doing in the sustainable space.”
Tom Watts, head of design at DCCI, said: “There are many principles of sustainable design that Irish business is practicing from enhancing environmental quality to minimising energy consumption, enhancing indoor and outdoor environments to reducing waste generation and prioritising environmentally preferable materials.
“With IBDC we want to shine a light and support these businesses in their practices and showcase them as examples to other Irish businesses on the best ways to maximise sustainable design and design thinking.”
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said the Irish Business Design Challenge showcases the important role that design plays in the economy and society.
“Businesses with creative and design led solutions at their heart are the key to making Irish business more sustainable to help reduce any negative impact on the environment. I would encourage all creative talent to apply and help champion design and design thinking across Ireland,” he added.
Photo: Model Sonny Drommand dressed in Native Denim at the launch of this year’s challenge in Belvedere House, Gardens and Park in Mullingar. (Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
