BELFAST’S FIRST EVER DESIGN WEEK LAUNCH

BELFAST DESIGN WEEK LAUNCH 2015

Yesterday I attended the launch of Belfast’s first Design Week at the Harp Bar in Hill Street (excellent choice). In one of our city’s last cobbled streets, I hobbled along in my heels to get there just in time. It’s a very exciting concept that ultimately puts us on par with other cities, and it’s all happening very soon. There was a room full of local people passionate about design, I was in my element. With a mixture of disciplines; fashion, graphics, architecture, craft and product design, there will be lots of local talent showcased over the week and a full program of talks and events sponsored by ‘A Year of Irish Design 2015’. I was delighted to have been invited to exhibit some of my fabric pieces from my KL Design Ireland’s art cushion collection at ‘THE DESIGN SALON’ which will be launching on the opening night of the festival at Framewerk Gallery Mon, Nov 2 (open 10am - 10pm until Sat 7th Nov). Works featured will include: ceramics, illustration, photography, graphic design, interiors, textiles and fashion. 

Also as an architect and PHD student my sister Jane Larmour will be giving a talk in the Lyric Theatre Belfast 3rd Nov at 10am (tickets needed) as part of ‘Design Camp’. I’m very proud of her for having designed the theatre itself whilst she was working for the practice O'Donnell + Tuomey back in 2012. It’s beautifuly situated on the edge of the River Lagan and was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize.

In a world with less resources, less money and more desire for new things, we are taking a moment to celebrate and promote our local design talent and economy. Hopefully this could be the first of many design festivals to come! 

I thought this brilliant sketch for a Guinness advert was perfectly fitting to illustrate my enjoyable afternoon, (which included a quick half pint at lunch time) with the primary colours of my all time favourite, genius and godfather of Neoplasticism, Piet Mondrian.

http://belfastdesignweek.com runs 2 - 8th Nov 2015

(Photo credits: the Lyric Theatre photo from O'Donnell + Tuomey website, map Katie’s instagram, Framewerk photo - Framewerk, Guinness ad taken from zythophile.co.uk)

Posted by Katie Larmour