People in Ireland and in all developed economies around the world have become increasingly aware of design qualities in the products they purchase and consume. If we reflect on the amount of design that goes into the creation of clothes, the construction of buildings, the production of videos, film or TV programmes, the manufacture of cars and virtually all products we use in our lives, we begin to realise just how important art and design has become.
 
Recent research carried out on behalf of our Sector Expert The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoL) put the estimated value of output of Irish Craft enterprises alone, at €498m. The sector has created many thousands of jobs in Ireland and employs people in a wide range of areas.
 
Arts, Craft and Design are words that go together easily. Careers in this field deal directly with work that contains a very high level of artistic talent, creativity and energy. The area typically attracts people who like to express themselves by creating a work of art, be it in the form of a painting, a new building, a video, a photograph, an advertisement or a piece of sculpture. However they can also be distinguished from each other in the following way:
 
Visual Arts and Craft

• Art is concerned with the creation of two or three dimensional paintings and sculpture. The climate in Ireland has improved and many artists can now make a living from the sale of their work alone. Others supplement their income with part-time work or full-time work in teaching, lecturing or arts administration.
• Craft refers to the creation of handmade or traditional objects such as pottery, jewellery and glassware. People in these artistic activities also need business skills for promoting and selling their work, organising exhibitions and having the skills to manage a small business. There is a high rate of self-employment in these crafts and approx 5,770 people employed in the sector.
• Photography: There are many different types of photographers. Some take pictures for the print media. Others take pictures for specialist medical and scientific publications. Most are self-employed and are engaged in meeting the demand to cover all the special events in our lives such as weddings, christenings, family portraits.  

Design

Design often tends to refer to the creation of buildings as in Architecture. However there are many other areas where design is required, for example:

• The design of commercial products is called Industrial Design. It involves a blend of science and engineering to mass produce products rather than craft goods. Making products that are safe and durable and that look and feel attractive is becoming essential in a competitive marketplace. Graduates of industrial design courses from the Institute of Technology Colleges are currently experiencing good employment opportunities.
• The work of Graphic designers is all around us. Adverts in newspapers and magazines, illustrations in catalogues and brochures, design on almost all packaging, the graphics on websites and multi-media products are all the result of the work of the graphic designer. The commercial and business world has now come to depend on design for its success and there is a good demand for graphic designers in Ireland at the moment. 
• Most people who work in fashion design work for small fashion designers. The work involves producing the design, cutting the pattern and finishing the garment. They produce ready-to-wear collections that are sold through selected shops. Others work for large wholesale manufacturers and create designs suitable for large department chain stores.  

Getting into Art and Design
The vast majority of students entering a career in the Art/Design area take a course of study in colleges of Art, Institutes of Technology or PLC Colleges located throughout Ireland. Most art related courses through the CAO system are restricted courses. That means that applicants require a portfolio of work and applications must be in by the 1st of Feb in the year applying for the course. Students are graded for entry to most art/design courses by way of Portfolio and basic Leaving Certificate grades (or equivalent).
 
Assembling a good portfolio a year or two prior to entry is essential for third level courses in the area of art and design. It is possible to take a Portfolio Preparation Course as a Post Leaving Course (PLC) in a college of further education. In general your portfolio should reflect your style and interpretation of different media through a range of varied pieces. It is a good idea to include preparatory work in order to display your work at the different stages of development. Take photographs of any work that is too heavy or cumbersome to carry. It is always worthwhile to have your work neatly presented and well laid out.
 
It is important to check out the courses and investigate the course content behind the course title. Courses with similar titles can differ in emphases and offer different areas of specialised study. Courses in design tend to offer opportunities to specialise in areas such as illustration, and graphic design, photography, multimedia and new media and design for industry. Fine Art programmes offer the student the opportunity to work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and interdisciplinary studies.

Industry Support Bodies in Ireland

Crafts Council of Ireland

The Crafts Council of Ireland is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness..

ICAD, Institute of Creative Advertising and Design

ICAD has been around since 1958 to foster and reward creative excellence in Irish Advertising & Design. They hold events and workshops, both student and professional, along with an annual awards and exhibition of The Best of Irish Advertising & Design.

IDD, The Institute for Design and Disability

IDD was established in 1991 following the European Conference on Design for Disability held in Dublin in 1989. The objective of the IDD is to promote the inclusion in society of people with disabilities through the exercise of good design. It has a membership of architects, designers, rehabilitation professionals and people with disabilities and is based at the National College of Art and Design.

Centre for Design Inovation

The Centre for Design Innovation (CDI) is an initiative of the Institute of Technology Sligo and is funded through the Applied Research Enhancement scheme of Enterprise Ireland. The CDI conducts research to establish the link between successful companies and their use of design; measure the efficacy of best practices to enable innovation through the use of design and creativity; and identify skill needs and training provisions to make Irish organisations globally competitive through the use of design and innovation.

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the state agency responsible for the development of Irish companies. It provides a range of supports to meet client business needs and works with clients to help them use innovation and design as an integral part of business development.

IDI, Institute of Designers in Ireland

The Institute of Designers in Ireland is the professional body representing the interests of Irish designers. Its function is to promote high standards of design, to foster professionalism and to emphasise designers' responsibility to society, to the client and to each other.

The Interiors Association

The Interiors Association is a multi-faceted support, networking & educational association for professionals working within the Interior Architecture and Interior Design Community.

RIAI, Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, founded in 1839, is the representative body for professionally qualified architects in Ireland. The objectives of the RIAI are the advancement of Architecture and the associated Arts and Sciences, the promotion of high standards of professional conduct and practice and the protection of the interests of architectural training and education.

Design Week

Design Week is a user-contributed annual festival focusing on design.  The Design Week committee works with design organisations, collectives, colleges, companies and studios to package and promote design related events taking place on the island of Ireland.