REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE GRADUATE DESIGNERS AWARDS MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER 1998
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE GRADUATE DESIGNERS AWARDS MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER 1998
As Patron of the Institute of Designers in Ireland, it is a particular pleasure for me to be with you this evening for this celebration of Irish design and Irish designers which is a recognition of the importance of the design profession to our success – a success that is breeding success and bringing us to new horizons in the pursuit of excellence. Indeed, you could say that our phenomenal performance in the economic and cultural field came about by design – for it was clearly no accident that we are in the position we are today - a progressive, outward-looking country, competing with the best in the world – even being the best in the world.
My role here this evening is to give recognition to all of those who work on the team that are working together to establish this country’s position in the international area – in industry, in education, in the media and in the arts. By any measure, it has been an outstanding success – with people of the calibre of Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex – the generous sponsors of these Awards – who are and have been turning small opportunities into major successes – and creating a “can-do” culture that has spawned a whole generation of self-confident “doers” – people who are eager to spring from the traps of competition and enterprise – hungry for opportunity and the chance to prove their worth.
Good design is fundamental to the quality image and commercial success of every sector of industry and, particularly in recent years, the importance of good design has become increasingly accepted in Ireland as a key element in product development and marketing – which is so important for a country like ours, whose exports are the driving force of the economy. As I said already, we are competing with the best – with long-established centres such as Scandinavia, France, Italy and Japan – countries that are addressing the requirements of discerning international customers who place a high premium on quality design.
Like the people of vision who realised decades ago that education was the key to long term success, so too have the managers and leaders of industry put their faith in the importance of design and product development in expanding our markets – through increased competitive advantage and response to customer needs. To do that you must be ready to meet change – and through a process of continuous critique and review, to operate on the basis that your business is in a constant state of flux – and that the secret of success lies in your ability and readiness to meet the challenge of change through innovation in design and product development.
This evening I want also to give credit to the Institute of Designers in Ireland for the crucial role it has played in the development of a vibrant and dynamic profession in Ireland – and which, throughout its twenty-six year history, has played a leading role in stimulating a healthy design culture - positioning Ireland as a centre of design quality and excellence. Design Week is another example of the kind of visionary thinking that has become the hallmark of the Institute – and through the Design Awards, the Design Exhibition and the other activities on the programme for the week, the Institute has given the profession the heightened level of awareness that it deserves.
Irish design creativity is among the best in the world – and this is especially true of our young designers. I mentioned earlier the visionaries who had the good sense to invest in our education system all those years ago. Today we are reaping the benefit of their wisdom with a superb pool of talent in our design schools and colleges – and with our emerging designers who are full of flair, enthusiasm and creative ideas. Matching that pool of talent, we have a wide range of initiatives supported by industry to draw out their creativity and originality, and give them the opportunities to contribute to the exciting world of Irish industrial design. The Institute’s Graduate Designer Award is an example of that support – where industry gives its own recognition to the wealth of talent that exists in this country – and the contribution that the design profession has made to the success of Irish industry today.
I am very happy to be here for these awards – and in congratulating all those who took part in the competition, I would like to pay tribute to those you were saddled with the task of selecting winners and who - along with the Institute of Designers in Ireland and Glen Dimplex - have made this event the important and significant event that it is. I know that everyone can’t be a prize-winner. But whether or not you have been awarded this evening you are part of Ireland’s new winning generation - team players in the game that will see us move into the next millennium with a whole new body of competence and skill. That success is itself a recognition of your winning role – a role in which you can take great pride – just as the people of Ireland take great pride in you and your accomplishments.
ENDS