The first day comprised a series of cultural events organised and led by Dr. Linda King (Senior Lecturer in Design and Visual Culture) and Gerard Fox (Lecturer in Graphic Design, Image-Making and Typography) who were co-Chairs of the programme from 2013 to 2021. These activities were located in Dublin city centre and were chosen to provide background and context for the forthcoming Dublin student workshop in March 2023: Mythology and Identity. The activities were grouped around the themes of Irish Identity and Visual Culture, Irish Identity and Material Culture, Irish Identity and Literary Culture and Irish Identity and Experiential Culture, allowing the participants to consider Irish Myths and Mythologies from a number of historical and contemporary perspectives. Tours were provided of the Book of Kells and Long Library of Trinity College; the Institute of Designers in Ireland’s exhibition of 50 years of Irish design; the National Museum of Ireland’s collection of early Christian gold artefacts; the National Library of Ireland’s WB Yeats exhibition; before participants gathered one of Dublin’s famous Victorian pubs and then discussed the day’s activities over dinner in one of the city’s most vibrant multi-cultural streets.
The second day was held on the IADT campus and introduced the participants to the structure and pedagogy of the Visual Communication Design/Graphic Design programme, led by Linda and Gerard and in collaboration with Rory Bradley (Assistant Lecturer in Graphic Design). A lively discussion ensued framed through profiling examples of student work that demonstrated both the breadth of the programme’s activity and its unique specialism of in expanding traditional concepts of graphic design practice beyond print into a blend of motion graphics, screen-based media, design writing and research. Many of these projects have won national awards and have been profiled internationally.
The participants also toured the Visual Communication Design/Graphic Design studios, meeting with students and more staff members. The delegation was met by Rónán Ó Muirthile (Head of Faculty of Film, Media and Creative Technologies), Dr. Tina Kinsella (Head of Department of Design and Visual Arts) and Peter Evers (Programme Chair) – who expanded the tour to showcase Faculty-wide research projects and facilities including the activities of the XR Research Group which focuses on AI; the technological capabilities of the National Film School; and the new, state-of-the-art, Atmos Lab that provides the highest-level professional sound production. The day ended with dinner and reflection in Dun Laoghaire Town Centre.
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