Dublin Institute of Design is a specialised private design college located in the heart of Dublin city. Founded in 1991, the Institute has been providing a range of full-time and part-time courses in design and related areas for the last 25 years.
Our programmes combine creativity with technical skills. Many of our lecturers are practicing professionals, ensuring that our students learn the latest technologies and develop the practical skills that the industry demands.
The Institute and it’s students have won many local and international awards including Irelands best Graduate Designer in 2016/17 and the Frankfurt Style Awards in 2017/18.
Most of our courses are offered on a full time and part time basis, offering flexibility around work or other commitments while completing your studies. The Institute also offers an instalment payment plan.
Degree Courses
We offer BA Degree programmes in both Graphic Design and Interior Design. Both programmes are accredited by QQI, Ireland’s national higher education awarding body. Applications for these programmes are made directly to the Institute and not via the CAO system.
Graduates of the BA Graphic Design programme work with leading advertising firms, with innovative graphic design and printing specialists, as freelance designers, and as in-house designers with well-known Irish companies.
Graduates of the BA Degree Interior Design programme work as freelance interior designers, and with renowned interior design companies in Ireland and abroad.
Certificate and Diploma Courses
We also provide a range of full time and part time 1 year certificate and 2 year diploma courses in Graphic Design, Interior Design, Web Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Buying, and Visual Merchandising. These programmes are internationally accredited and are a superb choice for students who do not wish to commit to a degree programme at this time but would like to options to complete a degree at a later stage.
Introductory Courses
We also provide introductory courses in each discipline, providing applicants the opportunity to explore their chosen field before committing to long-term study.
Most of our introductory courses are a progression route to further study, with a corresponding fee reduction.
Competition Winners
Our students have performed very strongly in international design competitions over the last few years.
Graphic Design student Alessandra Ravida won last year’s IDI’s (Institute of Designers in Ireland) Grand Prix Graduate Award. This is the most prestigious student / graduate award in Ireland in the Design sector, with the winner chosen by both academic and industry judges.
This was the first time that a student from a private college won this award. Several of our students have been shortlisted at the IDI Graduate Awards over the last few years.
As a Year 3 student, Alessandra was awarded membership of one of the world’s most prestigious graphic design organisations, the International Society of Typographic Designers, based on her competition entry Parallax, a critical reflection on the role of science in society.
The previous year, Graphic Design student Laurie Concannon was selected as overall winner of the prestigious International Yamaha Graphic Design Award. Laurie’s design was chosen out of over 1000 entries, from 90 different countries, by a panel of renowned international designers. As part of her prize, Laurie received $10,000; one of the world’s biggest prize funds for any student competition.
Fashion Design student Ágota Pfening was awarded first prize in her category at the 2017 Frankfurt Style Awards student fashion competition. Many of our students have been shortlisted in this prestigious international competition over the past 3 years, so we were delighted with Ágota’s success.
Recent Developments
Responding to changing industry demands, we provide an intense 8-week course in Revit and Level 2 BIM.
Led by architects from some of Ireland’s prominent architectural firms, the course delivers multiple skill sets that have become industry-standard in Ireland’s construction industry over the past few years. Once again, we offer this course is a part-time basis.
Applications
We are now accepting applications for the 2018 /2019 academic year. Applications can be made directly to our Admissions team online, by phone, or in person.
Portfolio assessment (or an aptitude test) is part of the application process for our Degree courses, but not a requirement for most other courses.
Our next Open Evening takes place on Wednesday 11 April and all are welcome. You are advised to contact us by email at admissions@dublindesign.ie or by phone at 01 679 0286 to find out the scheduling of specific talks on your course of interest.
