Conscious design is central to Innovation - Minister Haughey

Posted on 30/09/09 by Seán Haughey The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey TD today launched Quality of Life an exhibition about contemporary Swedish innovations with focus on design.
The exhibition presents some 30 products, from simple but ingenious objects to advanced pioneering technology.
All the products have a powerful design and technology profile.
High-tech, ergonomics, environmental awareness, problem-solving in the design process, visions and creativity have been key ideas in the choice of objects for the exhibition.
In conjunction with the Exhibition, DIT is hosting a Seminar on Design Thinking in Sweden and Ireland.
‘It is a great honour for Ireland and the Dublin Institute of Technology to host this seminar Design Thinking in Sweden and Ireland and the Quality of Life Exhibition.
‘Our ambition as a country must be to put innovation at the core of our policies and strategies for the future, so that Ireland becomes a world leader in innovation,' said Minister Haughey.
A recent report Innovation in Ireland spoke about our wish as a country to promote innovation across a broad spectrum
Innovation has no policy borders.
To stay ahead, Ireland must continue to deliver consumer-driven innovative products and services as well as further developing new business models, new organisational structures and skills for innovation.
‘Innovation requires a special mindset that involves curiosity, creativity and problem-solving, the ability to continually question established ways of doing things and the ability to apply knowledge, insights and intuition to change them.
‘The development of a knowledge-intensive smart economy is a key element of this Government's framework for sustainable economic recovery.
‘The Smart Economy combines the successful elements of the enterprise economy and the innovation or ‘ideas' economy,' said Minister Haughey.
Speaking about how Swedish design has long been characterised by the ideology of functionalism, with its priorities of simplicity and appropriate function, Minister Haughey said
‘In Ireland we must continue to put innovation at the core our policies and strategies.
‘We must translate ideas into valuable processes, products and services.
‘We can learn from the Swedish experience.
‘Today's Swedish design is about creating values and stretch beyond a product's functionality and aesthetics.
‘It's about communication and quality of life.
‘It's about telling stories with the products,'said Minister Haughey.
The Minister concluded by wishing the exhibition and seminar every success saying
‘It is timely to host this event given the difficult economic times the country is experiencing at this time.'