The Global Irish Design Challenge invites designers of Irish lineage, or those with a strong affiliation to Ireland, to present products, projects and concepts that have the potential to revolutionise the way we live.

The challenge aims to celebrate and provide a platform for game-changing Irish design innovation, while activating and connecting a broad global network of design talent. It offers a unique opportunity to bring visibility to the exceptional levels of design and innovation taking place across the globe.

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Launching the initiative, Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD said: “The Global Irish Design Challenge will raise awareness of the strategic importance of design for Ireland’s future including helping to address societal and economic challenges and will strengthen Ireland’s reputation internationally. It will bring together the Irish design diaspora to help build a design-focused, creative economy on the international stage.”

“Irish companies such as Design Partners, Mcor Technologies and Dolmen are achieving recognition and winning prestigious awards internationally, growing Ireland’s reputation abroad as a home for innovative design across a broad range of disciplines. We look forward to seeing the innovative Irish solutions to global challenges that will arise out of the Global Irish Design Challenge,” Minister Nash added.

Online entry for the Global Irish Design Challenge is now open and runs until 30th November 2015. An international panel of high-profile design experts will assess submitted entries, with the announcement of selections planned for January 2016. ID2015’s ambition is that an exhibition of the selected work will be launched in Dublin as part of the centenary celebrations for 2016.

Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of Irish Design 2015 said: “Celebrating Irish design and the ingenuity of designers with an Irish connection, we’re delighted to announce that entries are now open for the Global Irish Design Challenge. We welcome the Government’s continued support of Irish Design 2015 and the initiatives being introduced this year such as the Global Irish Design Challenge. Through the Challenge, we wish to create a strong vision and narrative of Ireland, positioning the country at the cutting-edge of design thinking and practice.”

Irish Design 2015 has an extensive international programme with participation in Design weeks in Milan and New York earlier this year and upcoming events at London Design Festival and London Fashion Week in September and Dutch Design Week in October. Following Ireland’s presence at London Festival of Architecture earlier this year, the Irish architecture and built environment sector will continue to be showcased at architecture biennials in Chicago and Shenzhen/Hong Kong later this year. The Global Irish Design Challenge will be actively promoted at these events and across the Embassy network abroad with the aim of engaging as many internationally based designers as possible who have links to Ireland.

ID2015 is being convened by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), in collaboration with partner organisations, on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Enterprise Ireland. The initiative sees over 300 design installations, conferences, exhibitions, talks and more take place on the island of Ireland and at global design events. The best talent in Ireland across a broad range of design disciplines – from product and industrial design, architecture and design engineering to fashion, costume and set design, animation, gaming and ICT design – continues to be profiled throughout 2015.

The closing date for entries to the Global Irish Design Challenge is 30 November 2015. Find out more by visiting the Irish Design 2015 website.