Design & Aid? Why we are supporting Dublin’s bid to become World Design Capital 2014.
26/05/2011 at 9:36 am 1 comment
It might seem unusual for overseas aid agencies, but Dóchas – the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations – is happy to endorse Dublin’s bid to become World Design Capital 2014.
Our 46 member organisations, and their estimated 850,000 regular supporters on the island of Ireland, are practical and very lively expressions of Ireland’s deep-felt commitment to global justice, solidarity and equality. There is a long and proud tradition, which we want to update; we want to find 21st century ways of expressing Ireland’s empathy with others and our ever closer inter-linking of cultures, economies and ways of living. As aid agencies, we are proud of – and depend on – Ireland’s ability to build relationships with people across cultural divides, and
to find our common humanity.
We are part of our nation’s, and particularly our capital Dublin’s, efforts to foster innovation and close communities of people. Our member organisations depend on good communications and on everyone’s thorough understanding of the opportunities (and challenges) of being true global citizens.
And Dublin allows us to tell our stories, and reminds us of something we as aid agencies are not good at: celebrating our achievements. PIVOT Dublin, World Design Capital 2014 will be a wonderful opportunity for us to do just that.
Entry filed under: Overseas aid. Tags: Design, Effectiveness, Globalisation, Impact, International, Ireland, NGOs, Partnership, Smart Aid.
1.
Conall O'Caoimh | 11/08/2011 at 2:37 pm
We at Value Added in Africa are delighted to see Dochas supporting the design bid by Dublin.
A number of top Irish design companies are assisting African partners of VAA to develop new product packaging. Each of these are African coops who have developed processing – creating more jobs by turning their raw materials into finished goods. The design process is to better position those producers in local, regional and international markets – so that they create more work for their employees and source more inputs from their farmer members.
Each of the design companies
http://www.Dynamo.ie
http://www.BrandInk.eu and
http://www.ZeusCreative.ie
kindly gives their creative time pro-bono to assist the African coops. The process is structured so that the African coop is in control of all decision making about their brand, and the coop remains the owner of the final art work.
Already one of the coops involved, Meru Herbs, has gained a contract to supply tropical jams to an Irish jam company. Look out for its launch shortly as the first consignment of jam has just arrived in Dublin port.
VAA greatly appreciates the support of Electric Aid for this project.