Living West Designers Forum
Are you a designer living & working in the West of Ireland? Are you looking to connect with other designers working along the Atlantic region?
We at the IDI and Design Skillnet are looking to build connections, community & support for the growing number of design professionals who have made the west of Ireland their home.
Join us for our “Living West” Designer’s forum hosted by IDI President Mary Doherty and newly appointed IDI Regional Development Officer Deirdra Mc Beth as we discuss the opportunities, challenges & ways to support designers looking to grow their business in the West of Ireland.
The first of these Living West forums are open to non- IDI members– so everyone is welcome. We hope to mingle, network & learn from each other in this first forum dedicated to those living along the Atlantic Region.
Who is it for?
- Designers/design professionals
- Design business owners
- Anyone with an interest in the design industry living in the West of Ireland
About the hosts
Deirdra McBeth
IDI’s Regional Development Officer
Deirdra McBeth has joined the IDI as their first-ever Regional Development Officer in July 2023. Thanks to Creative Ireland’s Economic Action Fund and support from consortia partners including Sligo County Council and the Western Development Commission, Deirdra is focused on facilitating connection, support and opportunities for design businesses in the West of Ireland.
Deirdra comes from a varied background of client-side roles in marketing & advertising in FMCG, drinks, hospitality & tourism across North America, London, Sydney & New Zealand. Having seen the industry from both client-side, in-house and agency, Deirdra has a distinct understanding of the design industry & its intersection with commercial enterprises.
Now living & working in Ennistymon, County Clare, she also has a unique perspective on what it means to live, work & build a career in the west of Ireland. Her goal is to facilitate connections & support amongst designers, commercial businesses & funding bodies in the west of Ireland.
Mary Doherty
IDI President & Managing Director of Red Dog Creative Agency
LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Red Dog Creative Agency
Mary Doherty is a designer, creative director and founder of Red Dog, a leading creative design agency established in 1993. A Donegal native, Mary founded her business in Dublin over 30 years ago, with a vision and steadfast ambition for excellent design and a belief in “creativity that means business”.
Since then, Mary’s design achievements have garnered significant recognition and established her as a true leader within the Irish design industry. Leading prominent identity projects for notable organizations such as Jhpiego (US), Ireland Funds, Ireland Presidency of the EU, Law Society of Ireland, TU Dublin and University of Limerick, Mary is renowned for her wealth of experience, leadership skills & industry stature.
Mary holds a BDes (Hons) in Visual Communications from NCAD and over the course of her career has become a true ambassador for Irish Design, being honored as Fellow of the Institute of Design in Ireland (IDI) in 2015, before joining the board of directors and now assuming the role of President in November 2022. But of course, still has to find time to get up the road to Buncrana to see her Mammy.
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