At what point is an interior designer consulted in the development of a new business?

1) Are interior designers often consulted, or "brought on board" in the very early stages of developing the business concept/business plan? Do business owners consider that interior designers have anything to contribute at the idea formation and planning stage?

2) Are interior designers generally called in at the latter stages to apply design to an already decided business concept/plan, or a tightly scripted design brief, or just to "put a face" to the business?

Do you agree of disagree? Let me know what you think, or if you would like more info or a PDF version send me a message through twitter and I will send it on.

FROM SOURCE: www.seeproject.org

Rising to several centimetres thickness, each copy bearing one of 30 different covers submitted by 30 different designers, comprising a staggering 416 pages of dense research and vivid imagery and accompanied by a specially made film, Dublin’s bid for World Design Capital was submitted for the end of March deadline to the competition agency ICSID. Entitled “PIVOT Dublin – Turn Design Inside Out”, the bid celebrates ambiguity, diversity and difference. It argues: “Dublin is a paradox, it is not about dour perfection or monotony. It’s about everything that’s possible when people, relationships, creativity and culture collide”.

The bid is a collaboration between the four Dublin Municipal Authorities and has National Government support. Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny, considers participation in the World Design Capital project a significant contribution to his Government’s ambitions for Ireland as a creative and innovative economy: In his letter of support for Dublin’s bid he says “this designation if awarded would provide a valuable opportunity for us to showcase Ireland’s vibrant design and creative industries while the invigoration provided by the proposed programme of events and projects would bring a renewed excitement and vibrancy to the city building on our experiences as City of Science 2012”.

The design and delivery of the bid document and associated film was undertaken by an interdisciplinary consortium of Red & Grey Design; Emma Curley Architect and Areaman Productions (film). Using material gathered from a year of exploratory workshops and conversations facilitated by the co-ordination team led by the Dublin City Architect, they have produced a document that arguably represents the most comprehensive research into a wider Irish design culture since the pioneering report Design in Ireland, which led to the establishment of the Kilkenny Design workshop in 1965. It is hoped that Dublin’s bid will act as a similar catalyst towards developing a shared understanding of the benefits that design thinking can bring to economic, environmental, social and political challenges.

This ambition is encapsulated in the bid title ‘PIVOT Dublin – Turn Design Inside Out’ a response to Dublin’s unleashed potential to use design as the vehicle to turn things inside out; to adapt, innovate and grow. A key strength in Dublin’s bid lies in its diversity. Alongside the more established design disciplines such as product, craft, fashion and graphic design, it features architecture and urban design, as well as the new digital design cultures and reflects Ireland’s recent success in animation, film and the gaming industry. Overwhelmed by a plethora of design events that take place in the city, the biggest challenge for the bid team was in editing the information. To tell Dublin’s story, the team focused on a few key projects that have transformed the city including the landmark new bridges that link north and south along the River Liffey, the community connections made by the Special Olympics in 2003, and the international outreach of a Digital Hub project that redesigns computers for schools in Africa.

The PIVOT Dublin bid strategy identifies an opportunity to use Dublin as a test bed for new ideas which address local need yet have global relevance. The bid explores these challenges and opportunities under four themes, which represent issues that face all cities; ‘Connecting Cities, ‘Making Cities Lighter’, ‘Making Cities Flow’; and ‘Making Cities Smile’. These themes are being explored through the development of ‘seed’ project collaborations between the public sector, business and design communities. Central to the bid strategy is that the seed projects start as soon as the bid is submitted and this work is now underway.

The PIVOT Dublin team hopes that the bid will convince an international audience that Dublin is a repository of much talent and a solid tradition of great Irish design. Above all, the bid conveys what a “cool city” Dublin is. Perhaps it does not tell a conventional story but it is a fascinating one, it is a story about a very sociable city for an extraordinary design experience. The Dublin design community agrees, as is evident in this testimonial by graphic designer David Smith of Atelier, the first Irish Designer to be elected to the AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale):

“That is what I would love to emerge from it; the legacy. That we use design to make a difference. If that came out of it at the end – win, lose or fail – that would be the best thing that we could have achieved for our city and the bid certainly presents that opportunity”.

More information on Dublin’s bid for World Design Capital 2014, is available from www.pivotdublin.com

The Institute of Creative Advertising & Design (ICAD) is calling for new creative talent to take part in The 2011 ICAD Upstarts Programme.

The programme seeks applications from students, graduates and junior creatives trying to get a start in the advertising and/or design industries.
It can be difficult for new entrants to get the opportunity to build up relevant experience in these industries and the ICAD Upstarts Programme is a chance to work to briefs and receive face-to-face critiques from some of Dublin’s best creative talents.

There are two sets of workshops, one in advertising and one in design. The 24 successful applicants (max of 12 participants per strand) will work with six of the top advertising agencies/ design studios over a period of six weeks, and will each be assigned a mentor for the duration of the series.

Download an Application Form

The programme will end with an exhibition as part of Design Week 2011.

The Institute of Creative Advertising & Design (ICAD) is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to ‘foster, promote and reward creative excellence in Irish advertising & design’ and works closely with the industry.

If you have any queries contact ICAD on 01 4716099 or elaine@icad.ie

The deadline for applications is July 8th.

What's it really like out there for Irish small businesses?

With prophets of doom on one extreme and Pollyannaism on the other, the reality for small business owners probably lies somewhere in the middle. But where can anyone who's brave enough or crazy enough to consider starting-up get an idea of how others are doing, and how do they find out what they're letting themselves in for?

One place to take a reliable sounding is on SmallBusinessCan.com an online resource and meeting place for start-ups and SME's, and is unique in that it is focused on starting-up and doing business in Ireland (and increasingly the UK).

The website provides information on the various stages of developing a business, which in turn is supported with a lively forum where members can get further advice from other business owners facing similar challenges.

Irish people are getting used to social media and the internet. Not that long ago it was thought that putting a photo or a real name online might lead to having an internet “friend” turning up uninvited on the doorstep, or having impostors  in all corners of the globe! Maybe a slight exaggeration, but social media in Ireland has come out in the open in recent years, and people are getting used to the idea that interacting with others online is not that different to real-life after all.

This mix of virtual and real world interaction is becoming the norm in modern business ... I mean we all want to meet our online friends in real-life ...don't we? ...

There is no typical contributor on on SBC; they can range from wide-eyed newbies starting their first business, to hoary seasoned pros who've been there done it and bought the t-shirt (though some might struggle to squeeze into it nowadays); and all business shapes and sizes in-between.

But the key to social media is that it is more a conversation than one-way broadcast, where people must engage regularly and genuinely to get the most out of it. The success of any community-based forum depends on good quality posts and and overall community spirit. The site could do better to promote this interaction though, as people only get  back what they give out, and soon tire of self-publicists.

Despite the persistent travails of the economy, the banks, the property market and so on, the mood is surprisingly positive among those experiencing the reality of running a small business in this country.

And along with support and advice from the growing community of business people with real-world nouse, small businesses can and probably will – despite whatever obstacles are flung in front of it.