Beautiful Info-graphics for @IPAVireland

It's great to get the opportunity to work with a client who understands the importance of visually communicating complex data. The recent info graphics I completed for IPAV, the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, is one such example. 

While the property market is a hot topic of conversation again the figures are also astounding many. Trying to convey this data in a simple and elegant way was a challenge but working on the idea of a spiral as a central theme seemed an appropriate mirror to the spirally costs identified. 

I created a colour-coded set of data graphs to illustrate the copy from Donal Buckley, Commercial Property Editor for the Irish Independent. This created a sequential listing of the data - and one that cold be adapted into a visual ‘burst’ for the Dublin regions. The full copy is available on IPAV’s website along with the completed brochure. 

All Good Tales Website Design @allgoodtales

Graduate Graphic Design Show from Dublin Institute of Design

Come one come all - its Graduate Exhibition time!!!

This year Dublin Institute of Design are having their Graduate show at Fumbally Exchange on Dame Lane, D2. The opening night will be on the 24th May from 5-8pm All welcome so spread the word! Work on display will be a showcase of final year Graphic Design and Interior Design students. The exhibition will run on the 25th from 12-6 and the 27th from 12-3pm.

Offset 2017 speaking about Shaping the Future of Education!

I had the great honour of speaking on a panel about the future of design education in Ireland. The panel was made up of the above speakers (John Paul Dowling stood in for Alex Milton), and the discussion centred around many topics including education policy, industry links to education, hiring graduates and graduate preparedness and where education can inform these areas.

The audience was a good mix of students and industry eager to join in the debate. This is the beauty of Offset, the audience can join right with the discussion. There was some great advice from Susan for 'soon to be grads' around looking for the best opportunities when looking at jobs specs. Both herself and Ciaran advised grads to go ahead and apply for jobs that are interesting, to have confidence in your abilities, even if you don't have all the skills required of the post. John Paul advised to carefully select that first role. As your grace period of being a 'graduate' runs out quickly so make the most of the first position. While my advice was simple. If you are in a design role and there is no one in the studio better than you... LEAVE! You cannot learn from an empty studio or one with no hierarchy to advance. 

There were of course a plethora of other topics discussed, far to many to mention here. But the important thing is that the dialogue and discussion is happening. Design education and the design industry is a rapidly changing sector and its future is constantly shifting.

Tune in to the full discussion which will be added to the archive in the coming months. 

Festival Season is here, but what about the tent?? #EP2016

With the festival season at the end of its  run, have you given a thought to your tent? In Glastonbury it was great to see some innovation from the design sector in particular graduate design.

Approx 5000 abandoned tents, 6000 sleeping bags, 3000 airbeds and 1000 rolled mats are left behind in the UK festival alone. The Guardian writes: Amanda Campbell, a recent University College London graduate in architectural studies, thought up the compostable tent for her final year design project. During the research stage, she realised that a bio-based material such as corn starch bioplastic could biodegrade within 120 days when composted. On its own the bioplastic material couldn’t endure wear and tear, but by putting natural fibres from bamboo or silk between sheets of the bioplastic the tent could be made durable and waterproof. The problem is that cheap tents made from cheap materials – costing as little as £15 at some supermarkets – are easy to come by, says Amanda Campbell, founder of what she claims is the world’s first compostable tent, Comp-a-Tent. 

Full article from the Guardian here.

Another way to consider your tent is to re-use it! Last years Electric Picnic @GlobalGreenatEP mobilised the entire Picnic to donate all their festival shelters to the the refugee crisis using the hashtag #TentsForCalais and ended up with over 400 tents which were driven straight to Calais - an initiative from the very wonderful Co. Clare woman & community activist @RoisinGarvey & this year she is planning on doing the same. Follow the hashtag. And there are drop off points in every campsite. 

So if you are tenting this 'summer' at a festival please think of how you will dispose of your tent. It is great if you bring it home and re-use it next year. But if not see if you can donate to a charity while we wait for the Comp-a-tent in 2018!

Good Morning #EP2015 - how're the heads today? We're accepting 4 men tents & bigger from 11am #picnictocalais pic.twitter.com/McIR0XiesA

— GlobalGreen@EP (@GlobalGreenatEp) September 7, 2015

Check out some of the previous work Danielle Townsend Design created for the Picnic....

Electric Picnic 2014

Electric Picnic 2015

Got a design job you think we could help with?

Why not call (+353 86 3138816) or email today and start the conversation.

Gay Switchboard Ireland listed in the @100Archive

We are delighted to have the Gay Switchboard Ireland project listed in the 100Archive 

The Brief:

Gay Switchboard Ireland has been supporting the LGBT community for over 40 years making it the oldest LGBT support service in Ireland.  As such this well respected brand resonates with many people and is highly regarded within the LGBT community. However the image of the organisation did not reflect the new future facing ideas of the organisation.

The Solution:

In order to develop a community approach brand pillars were articulated. These are identified as: Caring, Safe, Creative , Working to Provide opportunity. 

Everything Gay Switchboard Ireland does must embody these. This includes but is not limited to the tone, message and imagery used throughout all campaigns. 

The new three colour identity allows for much greater flexibility and brand recognition and aligns with the new outlook of the organisation. 

Messaging has been carefully crafted with the leading question 'Can't think straight?" which aims to open dialogue with the audience. Brand guidelines were created in order for the consistent application of the brand message. Reference image and copy are shown to provide direction for the organization, with detailed compositional grids systems guiding the application of future material. 

(Note: images used in the guideline are for reference only. Image credit on Poster 3 @paulameds)

Check it out along with our other accepted projects here.

Graduate Exhibition @DublinDesign 2016

In the words of Frankie Valli - Oh what a night! and in fact what a year for the most recent batch of graduates from Dublin Institute of Design. These students - mostly part time - have worked tirelessly for the last few years to deliver what I can honestly say is one of the best graduate graphic design shows in Dublin (I know I'm not biased). 

The array of topics on display really show a commitment from these students to use design and their ability to enrich the fabric of society in some way. They have tackled themes like community engagement, our fair city and its hidden stories, censorship, loneliness, feminism, food waste & production, mental health & suicide to intergalactic currency! and have delivered their concepts through the lens of a social commentator trying to disrupt the status quo. The is traditional branding & typographic skills on show as standard however the level of awareness around the commerciality of these projects is high and many can go into full development mode with these projects. The group have shown an excellent awareness of and engagement with society which highlights the evolving nature of design education past the notion of only creating for consumption but towards design for social good. The exhibition is in its last few days and can still be seen at Dublin Institute of Design, 45 Kildare Street 10-4pm. 

(Note: All branding for the Exhibition was completed by graduate Peter Mullen)

Dublin #Pride2016 in Pictures!

What a great day in Dublin on Saturday 25th June. The streets were alive with colour and good vibes. I was lucky enough to be involved in designing the float for the Gay Switchboard Ireland. And with a merry band of helpers we got the duck (thanks ot Viking Splash Tours) covered in a sea of balloons & banners!
The streets were lined with well wishers form across the country & even Mr. Larkin got into a few pics! Great to see such positivity in the in city! See can you spot yourself in the crowds!

Design Graduate Show @DublinDesign Kildare Street

It’s that time of year and all the Graduate Design shows are on. The new kid on the block is Dublin Institute of Design at 45 Kildare Street, who are having their show tomorrow 1st June 4-7pm entitled Black Frame.

The show features design work from BA Hons Degree students of Graphic Design & Interiors Design as well as Diploma students from Graphic Design, Interior’s Design, Fashion & Web courses.

This year the Institute have had a number of high profile successes with International winning design competitions and an awarded ISTD typographic project. “The students have created incredible design solutions to self-directed projects ranging from getting to know our beautiful city better, sharing knowledge within our community to innovative typeface design. It truly is an eclectic mix of emerging new talent” says Danielle Townsend – Programme Coordinator for the BA(Hons) Graphic Design at the Institute.

If you think you might like to experience some design and enjoy a free wine reception, why not come along!

Show opens: 1st June 4pm -7pm (wine reception)

Normal hours: Mon-Fri 10-4pm throughout June.

(Graduate Show Design by Peter Mullen - Final Year Graduate Graphic Design)

Creative Confidence from @IDEO (Tom & David Kelley) #OneBookPerMonth

Isbn 978-0-00813938-4

While many of you I know are avid readers sometimes with work commitments I can go several weeks without the company of a good book. While not a fan of the NY resolution, and since reading about Mark zuckerbergs resolution last year - to read a book every two weeks- I have decided to join re ranks in the hope that the commitment will ensure I carve out time in my day for my favorite pastime. Reading! 

I am however being less ambitious and am looking to read a new book per month and am very happy to take suggestions, chat about the book without starting a book club (which has never had much appeal to me).  

So my kick off for the year was the best seller Creative Confidence by the founders of IDEO Tom and David Kelley. 

I have long since known of the work they have done with the d.school and their innovation workshops. However I had yet to read any of their books.  

The book takes you on a journey to explain, develop, challenge and ultimately aims that you engage in all/any persuits with creative confidence. This is delivered through a series of brief case studies from their clients that read more like annecdotes.  

While having a good grasp of design thinking through teaching and practice, I found some of the tools on the book made me think about iterating my approach. I think that a book that makes you reevaluate or improve is a must-read for all professionals. Not just designers. Some of the points are of course preaching to the choir !! but the audience for the book is, in my opinion Non-designers. That being said, an interesting read that has sparked lots of ideas for my growing list of personal projects! 

Please feel free to comment or suggest a book for Feb.  

Dublin Canvas project accepted into the @100Archive!

We are delighted to have another branding project accepted in the 100Archive. This time a Street Art piece for Dublin City Council and Dublin Canvas.

Brief

To brighten up Dublin City, by creating a unique artwork for a chosen traffic light box. The area for the box must play an integral part in the design.

Solution

The quote is taken from our most infamous author James Joyce, who wrote about Dublin’s Quays frequently. This quote is fitting in that it aims to inspire people to overcome their own personal ‘errors’ to discover their strengths and is intended to be inspirational. The typeface has been created specifically for the project and is a nod to a modern Ireland made up of makers and creatives who are passionate about our city. It mimics the pop-out toys of yester-year that many of us grew up with and the palette is fresh and exciting to mirror the vibrancy of what is in my opinion the best city in the world! (not biased at all lol)

Check out this project and others accepted into the 100 Archive here: 

http://www.100archive.com/project/errors-are-for-discovery-street-art

6 Years in Business!! Ode to a #startup!

It is actually incredible to think that 6 years ago I humbly began my design practice (in what was the worst crisis the Irish economy had ever found itself in! At the time I rallied to get clients and do good design work. It was extremely tough and fraught with self-doubt and of course the obligatory mistakes, that surely would make me stronger one day! 

What a stormy year to start though, 2009 was grim! Budgets were pulled for most design activities and many companies just evaporated into thin air. A friend of mine recently told me about an interview with Will Smith, about his incredible work ethic (you can watch it here). He basically speaks about how hard he has worked for everything he has. "When the other guy was having fun, he was working". He talks about how his strong work ethic has made him the success he is today.

I'm not saying I'm Will Smith lol!  far from it in terms of the success that guy has had, but I think I absolutely share his grit & determination and his irrepressible work ethic! What else could have got me through those first tentative years! 

So what advice might I give to a startup... DO IT!! Life is full of uncertainties anyway, and if you are passionate and have self-belief you will succeed. Visualise the road to success and you will get there.

Hooray! its @DesignWeek_ie 2nd-8th Nov 2015! #Design2015

Each year people ask me for recommendations for what to go and see during Design Week, so I've decided to dedicate this blog to just that. Of course these are just my personal favorites and by no means all that is on offer for this glorious week celebrating all things design!!! So check out the full listing at www.designweek.ie

Friday 30th October

Fresh Talent

If you missed it in Dublin Castle you might take a trip to Kilkenny to see the Fresh Talent delight!

Monday 2nd November

Exhibition of projects: DIT Students Designing With Communitie.

Showcase of collaborative projects between DIT design students and community groups/ not-for-profit organizations.

Tuesday 3rd November

Launch

The launch takes place in the Huge Lane and opens proceedings along with celebrating the success of the Pivot programme #MakeShapeChange which I was involved with earlier in the year. 

Wednesday 4th November

RIPE: ICAD Upstarts Exhibition

The its time to check out this years batch of Upstarts! Always a great event to go to.

Thursday 5th November

Modern Practice Event: The Stone Twins.

Time to check out the super work of these guys, booking is essential!

Friday 6th November

Design for Social Innovation Symposium

FOR THE WEEKEND...

Saturday 7th November

Create Simple Gadgets with Arduino & Raspberry Pi. These guys @FabLab are fantastic makers, a real treat!!

Nearly time for @EPfestival & @GlobalGreen

Well its that time of year again, the best festival of the (ahem) Summer! And down at @GlobalGreen you'll see lovely signage and flags designed by yours truly, animating a part of the #GlobalGreen @EPfestival 2015.

Nostalgic moment alert..Heres some footage from the behind the scenes fun and games from last year. And of course the building onsite which was great fun in the Irish Summer!

This year come see the bespoke laser cut signage which ave been developed especially for Cloghjordan, and 120 Flags all begin laser cut and hoisted high around the venue! The typeface for the 'Come to Cloghjordan' 8ft sign is a bespoke creation especially for @cultivate_ie based on the beloved Futura face. The design attempts to communicate the ability & drive to MAKE and CRAFT things. While the snap-out toy format nods to playfulness of the festival that brings out the child in all of us.

A second sign for the Heritage Council was created and the guys @HeritageHubIRE decorated each letter. 

And finally 120 flags of all different colours were laser cut to bring a splash of colour overhead!

I'll get some pics uploaded as soon as I can and hope to see ya all there! But for now heres the videos from last years festival.