This morning saw the launch of Pivot Dublin - Dublin's bid to be designated World Design Capital in 2014. Spearheaded by Dublin City and County Councils along with a number of design and architecture organisations and designers across the city, Dublin's bid is due early next year, but work for it has been going on for the last 12 months or so.
The theme of the bid is Pivot Dublin, evoking ideas of a turning point, a change in direction, and designating Dublin not just as a design capital, but as a fulcrum for global activity. Pivot Dublin is seen as an opportunity not just to host a year's worth of design events (though that would be pretty cool on its own) but a chance to start thinking differently about design in Ireland and the impact Irish design has, or could have, internationally. The part I like best about all this is that regardless of whether Dublin wins the bid or not, there's huge potential to instigate this change by merely making a bid at all. Win or lose, chances are Dublin will be a different, hopefully better city for having really examined how and why we design the way we do.
In order to compose the bid, the Pivot Dublin website is now live for everyone to find out more and join in in the conversation. Log on to see what's going on in Dublin now, to read more about the inspiration behind the bid, and to contribute ideas, events and musings. Follow Pivot Dublin on Facebook or Twitter, or join the mailing list to find out how the bid progresses. Be inspired, get involved!
Postscript:
My enthusiasm for all this may have something to do with the fact that there were biscuits (pictured above) at the launch today, and biscuits might be my favourite food...
The theme of the bid is Pivot Dublin, evoking ideas of a turning point, a change in direction, and designating Dublin not just as a design capital, but as a fulcrum for global activity. Pivot Dublin is seen as an opportunity not just to host a year's worth of design events (though that would be pretty cool on its own) but a chance to start thinking differently about design in Ireland and the impact Irish design has, or could have, internationally. The part I like best about all this is that regardless of whether Dublin wins the bid or not, there's huge potential to instigate this change by merely making a bid at all. Win or lose, chances are Dublin will be a different, hopefully better city for having really examined how and why we design the way we do.
In order to compose the bid, the Pivot Dublin website is now live for everyone to find out more and join in in the conversation. Log on to see what's going on in Dublin now, to read more about the inspiration behind the bid, and to contribute ideas, events and musings. Follow Pivot Dublin on Facebook or Twitter, or join the mailing list to find out how the bid progresses. Be inspired, get involved!
Postscript:
My enthusiasm for all this may have something to do with the fact that there were biscuits (pictured above) at the launch today, and biscuits might be my favourite food...
