About
This is the sector for visually creative people and those who enjoy handcrafting their own goods. Design can cover a broad range of roles, including drawing advertisements and products, or designing websites. The craft sector is made up of small companies and self-employed crafters, they apply their specific skills to create high quality goods. In contrast to industry they produce much smaller amounts of their products, but put a higher amount of care and craft, spot the name, into each piece. They may sell products themselves in markets or their own stores or export them abroad.
Skills
Key Facts
employed in design roles
million euro, price of the most expensive painting by an Irish-born artist, Francis Bacon's Three Studies of Lucian Freud
design enterprises in Ireland in 2015
of Design & Crafts Council of Ireland clients are ouside Dublin
Labour Market Information
While there are no general issues noted in the National Skills Bulletin 2019, there have been indications from employers that companies are finding it difficult to source suitably qualified staff to work in animation. As a result, an apprenticeship for a CGI Technical Artist has been proposed.
In this Sector...
Visual Arts
Visual artists produce anything that is pleasing to the eye, including drawings, paintings, sculpture, architecture, photography, prints and film. A talent and flair for business is essential, as you will most likely be self-employed.
The Crafts Industry
The Craft Industry often goes hand-in-hand with the tourism industry. Many craft businesses are small and based in rural areas. The job therefore demands a broad range of skills from employees such as sales, marketing and management.
Design
Design is a plan or a blueprint for a visual work or product, but can also include a full concept of how something will function and what purpose it will serve. Career areas include fashion, automobile manufacturing or video games to name but a few.
Advice from Experts...
If you want to know more about working in the in the sector, hear what the experts have to say.
Craft and Design
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