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It’s an exciting week for the Irish design industry, and not just because Christmas is around the corner…
The Irish Government have just <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/6a866-action-plan-for-designing-better-public-services-launched-by-minister-donohoe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a progressive roadmap for embedding design in the public service. <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e3e2-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Action Plan for Designing Better Public Services</a> was launched by Minister Paschal Donohoe and is a successor to the ‘Our Public Service 2020’ framework.
The primary objective of the plan is to enable all public service organisations to embrace and embed design thinking as a core part of their approach over the next two years.
It is encouraging to see terms like ‘UX’, ‘Journey Mapping’ and ‘doublediamond processes’ referenced in a Government roadmap. This is real recognition of the value and benefits good design can have on the public sector and beyond. What also stands out is the clear distinction drawn between paying lip service to design and adopting an effective design approach.
<a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e3e2-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-14801 size-full" src="https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS.png" alt="" width="2000" height="942" srcset="https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS.png 2000w, https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS-250x118.png 250w, https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS-700x330.png 700w, https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS-768x362.png 768w, https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS-1536x723.png 1536w, https://www.api.friday.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DS-120x57.png 120w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a>
There are three focus themes within the action plan:
<hr />
<h5>Demonstrate Design Commitment </h5>
The first theme covers the actions required that demonstrate commitment to implementing the discipline of design by providing the necessary investment, funding and resources that are required to deliver real progress and change.
<ol>
<li>Encourage Design Integration</li>
<li>Establish Design Funding</li>
<li>Leverage Design Expertise<a href="https://www.ops.gov.ie/designprinciples/"> 
</a></li>
</ol>
<hr />
<h5>Increase Design Capability</h5>
The following actions aim to democratise design by making skills, tools, and training accessible to all, ensuring everyone can contribute their unique talents to enhance public services.
<ol>
<li>Develop Design Resources</li>
<li>Enhance Design Skills</li>
<li>Foster Collaborative Experiences</li>
</ol>
<hr />
<h5>Foster a Design Culture</h5>
Actions to foster a design culture throughout our public service, fostering a community that integrates design into daily language and behaviours, promoting collaboration and advocacy.
<ol>
<li>Promote Design Successes</li>
<li>Facilitate Design Challenges</li>
<li>Foster a Design Community<a href="https://assets.gov.ie/255872/e6feb71e-0199-4061-894e-6f8e80bafad1.pdf"> 
</a></li>
</ol>
<hr />
This plan envisions Ireland as a global exemplar of design-led public service transformation, emphasising the importance of a design approach in creating a more efficient and inclusive future. 
Overall, <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1e3e2-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the plan</a> appears comprehensive, well-researched, and strategic, providing a solid foundation for the integration of design principles into the Irish public service, something everyone will benefit from.
This is a shot in the arm for the Irish design industry as a whole. The value of good design has been recognised at a Government level and this should have a knock on effect in the private sector over time.
At Friday, we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating on a number of public service design, research and marketing projects in 2023 and we look forward to continuing this work into 2024 and beyond.
Our observations indicate a shift in the design maturity within the public sector and this new Action Plan will have more substantial influence. 
The future of Irish design looks bright.

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