Design 21st Century is a not-for-profit organization in Ireland focused on fostering creativity and innovation to address major societal challenges through 'design thinking.' The initiative began in 2006 with a vision for a prosperous and innovative Ireland and has evolved through collaborative efforts, workshops, and community engagement. The organization's mission is to inspire change and improve outcomes by utilizing design thinking tools to tackle social issues and develop new products and services.

1. WHAT IS DESIGN 21ST
CENTURY?

2. What is Design 21st Century?
We are a not for profit charitable organisation dedicated
to the belief that Ireland can be a more prosperous,
innovative and happier country if we reawaken and tap
the spirit of creativity and imagination that runs deep in
our people and our history.

3. What is Design 21st Century?
We believe that the ‘big problems’ of the world, and
therefore Ireland, can be addressed in Ireland, if we
adopt new ways of thinking and collaboratively working
together.

4. What is Design 21st Century?
We believe that ‘design thinking’ is a big idea that fits
well with our natural capabilities and offers competitive
advantage as well as social cohesion. Design Thinking, is
a process for practical, creative resolution of challenges
that looks for an improved future outcome.

5. What is Design 21st Century?
We believe that Design Thinking can be taught as a set
of tools and competencies. Design Thinking offers new
and fast ways to innovate to solve social problems,
develop new products and services for business and
deliver effective public services.

6. What is Design 21st Century?
We see ourselves as ‘critical friends’ who inspire,
stimulate and enable projects in support of our beliefs by
working with local authorities, business development
agencies, public servants, academia and citizens to bring
about positive change through design thinking.

7. A QUICK HISTORY OF THE
JOURNEY SO FAR….

8. It all started with a conversaKon in 2006…
Two people Jean Byrne and Jim Dunne shared a vision
of a creative, innovative, happier and prosperous Ireland.
We shared a concern that although innovation and
creativity was being talked about – not a lot was actually
happening.
Developed a ‘thought paper’ and shared this with a 100 +
people who agreed with our analysis.

9. ConversaKons conKnued in 2007…
We were struggling with the ‘levers’ to pull to get
engagement and the change we desired.
We saw Massive Change in Chicago and encountered
Bruce Mau and Vannesa Ahuactzin.
We were encouraged by some people to see our project
as a campaign not an event – 5 years minimum.
We decided that Massive Change 2 was our ambition
and Design Thinking was our ‘lever’.

10. We named our ambiKon and vision in 2008…
We became Design 21st Century, developed our vision
and began to formalise our approach.
We persuaded Vannesa to join us and come to work with
us in Ireland.
We found a small group of influential supporters and held
an important Workshop in IMI.
We were invited into Creative Dublin Alliance by John
Tierney, City Manager.

11. We made a big discovery in 2008…
We discovered we were having ‘great meetings’ but no
change was happening.
We decided to take our own medicine and ‘run a project’
to prove concept, we had a few ideas we tested;-
• Ireland 100
• Learn Big
• Conversations with Citizens
• Dublin’s Identity
We decided to run Conversation with Citizens in Dublin
and were about to launch in April 2008 when…….

12. We reframed our project and plan for 2009…
The IDEAS Campaign – Aileen O’Toole
In July 2009 we ran Wishes for Dublin..
1,500 Dubliners asked for their wishes…
Common threads uncovered…
Three World Café Workshops – Water, Waste,
Community…
Multiple possible projects…
Reduced to five possibles…
Brought these to the City Manager for assessment…