Design Stories in collaboration with Belfast School of Art engages local design students in a placemaking and communication project, focusing on researching the Smithfield & Union Quarter and finding stories about local architecture, people, history, events, words and motifs that are unique to the quarter. This research alongside guidance from Belfast Design Week and Golden studio will inspire visual storytelling and developing “place branding" or an identity and students will additionally develop a visual language using type and image designed to help a wider audience connect with the stories they have created. This project will include a central showcase and motion design piece exhibited/projected at the Art Deco Bank of Ireland Building on the corner of Royal Parade and North Street in Belfast in the Smithfield & Union Quarter, a heritage venue that will be home to the upcoming Belfast Stories museum in the coming years.

We have worked on several previous collaborative projects with Ulster University (and other universities and colleges). Past projects include a prize-winning industry project with Jameson Whiskey leading to interactive design and graphic outcomes, valuable Urban Design Challenges and outcomes in partnership with Destination CQ and local architecture and service design firms and two recent collaborative projects with Future Island-Island creatives for Irish Design Week and Retail Ready field trips with Belfast School of Art placement year students. Our aim is to build upon these existing connections with our education collaborators and devise a new project which can animate historic and valuable parts of Belfast’s stories through the lens of emerging designers. From previous feedback from design lecturers, these industry and place-based projects have enabled students to have a richer understanding of design as well as having a more interesting and diverse portfolio for their future careers.