Developing the Northeast Design Cluster

What is the Northeast Creative Conversations programme?

The Northeast Creative Conversations programme is a design sector cluster development programme. Its aim is to assist design practitioners to network and build capacity by enhancing their innovation and digital skills to bring their work to new markets locally, nationally, and internationally.

Which design businesses is it aimed at?

The programme is aimed at design businesses* including industrial design, product / service design, visual communications, graphic design, Ui / Ux (User-interface/User-experience) and interaction design, service design and strategic design.

What’s involved:

The NCC programme will offer design businesses capacity building and networking opportunities. In two phases from May to October 2023

Phase 1 – Design Innovation & Capacity Building (May - July) will include:

• An Innovation & Digital Skills Diagnostic to identify capacity building opportunities.
• Five Product / Service Development Masterclasses
• Innovation & New Product / Service Development Mentoring
• On completion of the diagnostic and workshops, mentors will work with businesses to implement and adapt new processes and technologies identified to build capacity in each business.

Phase 2 – Design for Export (Aug – Oct) will include:

• Five Export Market Development Workshops
• Export Market Development Mentoring
• A Study Visit to an International Trade Fair
• On completion of workshops, mentors will work with businesses to implement identified export market development opportunities.

Programme Events & Networking

The programme will include a series of network building and collaboration events including:

• Northeast Creative Conversation #1 – Creative Spark – June 13th (TBC)
• 3 Design Business Show & Tell Conversations (Cavan, Louth, Monaghan).
• Northeast Creative Conversation #2 – Monaghan Digital Hub – October (TBC)

There is no cost to your participation, however you can have a significant influence on how the design cluster in the Northeast develops though getting involved.
*Programme participation is open to design sector businesses and must be based in counties Cavan, Louth or Monaghan.

For further information on how to register email: info@leo.monaghancoco.ie

This project is a collaboration between: Creative Spark, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Local Enterprise Offices in the Northeast, Monaghan (Lead Partner), Cavan and Louth & the Creative Ireland Culture Teams