Local companies top Irish design awards success

Northern Ireland companies came out tops at the Designers in Ireland Design Awards held for the first time in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast at the weekend.

Local designers took the top prize in seven of the 16 categories awarded which included Paradigm Product Development which won in two categories, Industrial Product Design and Corporate/Brand Identity and Rodney Millar Associates for their work on Royal Mail Northern Ireland Definitive Stamps in the Brochures/Promotional Literature category. Odyssey education centre W5 received the top prize in Exhibition Design and Sharon McCourt took top honours for her loungewear in Fashion Design.

Bruce Robinson, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment who was speaking at the Awards said: “Design is essential to the new economy. In a world where companies compete globally, businesses must develop distinctive products and services if they are to build lasting brand relationships and meet the ever more sophisticated needs of consumers.

“In addition, design can improve the environments we work and live in, the products we make, use and wear and the way we communicate. It has the ability to provide tangible solutions to social problems such as crime and environmental sustainability.”

Highlighting Stormont’s commitment in this area he said: “The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is committed to encouraging a design conscious culture within business and shortly we will be launching an important consultation document, through IRTU, called ‘Design Futures’. This document points the way to economic growth in Northern Ireland through design and has been founded on a wide consultation process both locally and indeed abroad.

“These awards also bring together professionals and businesses from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as part of the ongoing work to build a vibrant design community.”

The Patrons of the Awards were Glen Dimplex and InterTradeIreland. The Awards were sponsored by IRTU in Northern Ireland and by Enterprise Ireland in the Republic of Ireland and were organised by IRTU’s Design Directorate and the Republic of Ireland’s Institute of Designers in Ireland. (AMcE)