We built the foundations through a very challenging year but Creativity loves a challenge! Workshop formats were trialled and tested, and the programme material was created. Strategic planning for 2021 mapped out our ambitions.
We onboarded nearly 100 incredible creative professionals from all corners of Ireland who feel as passionate about THE B!G iDEA as we do. We welcomed our first schools who believed in the benefits of creativity and embraced the potential of our programme.
We won’t forget the start of the year where we launched with 500 students in counties Carlow, Limerick and Clare. A third national lockdown results in schools beginning the year online, but The B!g idea team rise to the occasion and pre-plan an alternate solution for online workshops that kick off our programme in style.
We introduce the five topics linked to briefs the students will be working on, all developed from student feedback early in the creation of THE B!G iDEA. We will empower the students with the creative skill set to tackle pressing social issues from Housing Crisis, Racism, Ageing Population, Health and Wellbeing, and of course, Pandemics.
In 2022 we aim to welcome 2000 students to THE B!G iDEA, growing the creative capacity of students around the country. Ever-evolving the programme with expert input, we will introduce new learning methodologies to support the student learning experience.
Look out for more incredible mentors and judges that will join us to support our students, bridging the gap between industry and education.
In 2023 our ambition is to introduce 10,000 students to THE B!G iDEA. They will expand their innovative thinking, increase their confidence and gain critical creative skills that will stay with them for life.
Our immense panel of experts will support the students and allow them to gain a glimpse of how innovative thinking is working to improve life in Ireland and beyond.
Look out Ireland, we are going national with an aim to have every school a creative school, 40,000 students later. Just imagine a generation of creative innovators who can take on the biggest challenges society faces.
Connecting creative change-makers from industry and creative change-makers from secondary education, Ireland will experience a new way of thinking. An innovative society that works together for a better future for all!
Our Fearless leader. The Head Honcho. The Big Cheese with The Big Idea. Kim is a former President and current Director of the Institute of Designers Ireland and is a firm believer in the power of creativity to effect positive change. She thinks B!G and she thinks you should too!
Ronan is our Creative Partner at THE B!G iDEA. As far as industry experience goes, Ronan plays with LEGO professionally, and while doing so, has worked with B!g thinkers like Microsoft, Stryker and Gas Networks Ireland. Yes, you read that right, he plays with LEGO professionally, AND he leads our video workshops!
Pat is our Motion Designer at THE B!G iDEA. He is our mover and shaker!
He likes his graphics alive, his coffee hot, and his clichés in threes.
For all things ‘curation’ at THE B!G iDEA, we don’t have to look much farther than the brilliant Swathi, our Creative Curator! With a flair for space design (whatever, NASA!), and a talent for convincing people to share their selfies, she helps us connect students directly to the industry.
Sarah is our Social Innovation Designer – a.k.a an ‘Absolute Wizard’. She makes our UX *click* with one hand, and plays a mean concertina with the other. If you’ve never tried to play the concertina with one hand, please don’t.
When it comes to marketing (and having fabulous hair) Rick is our guy. He’s our guru and supports all of THE B!G iDEA’s ‘BIG IDEAS’ with research, strategy and a swish of his hair!
Align your brand with the most progressive student programme on the island of Ireland and support a new generation of creatively empowered youth.
Make a B!G impact with us!