June 2022 – October 2022

About

Circular by Design is a first-of-its-kind professional training programme, developed and delivered by the Creative Futures Academy at NCAD and DCCI, to support textile and apparel designers, brands and manufacturers to make the transition to circular practises in every step of their design practice, value chain and business model.  A circular fashion industry is one in which waste and pollution are designed out, products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, and natural systems are regenerated.

The Circular By Design programme is being piloted in 2022, with 7-10 Irish textiles and apparel designers, brands and manufacturers, and is now open for applications!

Who is this training for?

Circular by Design is for frontrunning Irish textile and apparel designers, brands and manufacturers, who have a passion and interest in driving positive social and environmental impact through their business by adoption of circular practices. 

Why should I join the pilot?

By joining the Circular by Design training pilot you will: 

Learn

• Understand the main drivers of circularity in the textiles industry and the urgency for change. 
• Build a foundational knowledge of  the circular economy;  key elements and strategies and interlinkages with parallel sustainability theories and frameworks. 
• Gain an in-depth knowledge of circular design and business models, international trends and best practice and the challenges and opportunities stemming from practical application. 

Innovate

• Explore the current impact and circular potential of your business and identify hotspots for innovation. 
• Redesign key value propositions, products, business models according to circular principles.
• Develop a final circular concept/prototype, and roadmap towards implementation
• Showcase your circular innovation at the Circular by Design  Innovation Festival 

Connect

• Become part of the Circular by Design Community of Practice, and connect with a national and international network of peers, experts and innovators. 

When is it happening?

 Exact date and times will be decided in May, in consultation with the selected pilot participants. Please note that under the current planning (TBC),  Masterclass 1 will be held in-person in Dublin and all subsequent activities will be delivered digitally (Zoom, Miro). An indicative plan can be found below;

• 3 x Circular by Design Masterclass: June 2022
• Coaching and matchmaking: July, August 2022
• 4 x thematic webinars: July-October 2022
• Circular by Design Innovation Festival: November 2022

What are the Entry Requirements?

In order to be eligible for the Circular by Design pilot, you must meet the following criteria:

Essential Criteria: 

• Be a registered client of DCCI
• Be a designer, brand or manufacturer in the Irish textiles and apparel sector
• Make a commitment from your team:
  • A cross-departmental team of 1 – 3 people from your company. 
  • A time investment of ±11 days per team member, over 6 months. This encompasses the following:
    • 3 full-day masterclasses (June): ±24hrs 
    • Homework and self-directed development (June – October): ±44hrs
    • 1-1 online support and correspondence: (July-October) ±8hrs 
    • Attend 4 x thematic webinars (July-October): ±8hrs
    • Showcase and attend Circular Innovation Festival (November): ±8hrs
• A longer-term company commitment to drive the outcomes of the pilot forward, into 2023 and beyond.
• Cover necessary participation costs 
  • Cost of training: €150. The cost of the pilot training is subsidised through the Circuléire Innovation Fund. 
  • Cost of travel and accommodation:  In the case that the trainings are held in-person, participants will be required to cover any travel or accommodation costs incurred. Under the current planning (TBC), only Masterclass 1 will be held in Dublin, and all subsequent activities will be delivered digitally. 
  • Cost of circular innovation prototyping and piloting: Any financial resources required for the realisation (prototyping / piloting) of the circular solutions that result from the Circular by Design training are outside the scope of the project and will be discussed and managed by the relevant parties involved.
    

How do I Apply?

We would like to hear from you, as to why you and your company would like to do this training and your suitability for it. 

Please apply HERE

On the application form you will be asked to provide information about: 

• Your Company
• Your motivation, commitment, openness, and availability to join the Circular by Design project

Application Deadline: 30th April 2022 at 5pm.

Selection Deadline: Successful applicants will be informed by Friday 13th May.

On the 19th April, NCAD and DCCI hosted a Zoom webinar to introduce the programme and answer your questions. Watch the recording below:

Contact us

If you have any query about the Circular By Design training, please email Gwen Cunningham – Circular by Design Project lead at NCAD: cunninghamg@staff.ncad.ie 

Circular by Design is proudly supported by a grant from the CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund under Grant Number INF-2901-010-2021.

CIRCULÉIRE is Ireland’s first industry-led innovation network dedicated to accelerating the circular economy. Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is the secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE which is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EIT Climate-KIC

Delivered in collaboration with: