Designing Policies

ITA | ENG

Courtesy of Adam Place Photography

The Intelligence Unit (IU) is a collaboration between the School of Architecture and the Kemmy Business School of the University of Limerick. IU Limerick is an 8-week programme in the Limerick City Gallery of Art featuring graduates and faculty of the University of Limerick, bringing their collective ideas and experiences to consider future directions for Limerick. The outputs of the programme are being shown in a dynamic format within the gallery setting for one week beginning July 19th, bringing together the visual and the analytical in a compelling exhibit.

Four important themes emerged from the researchers’ analysis. The researchers looked at developing artisanal food networks, at Limerick’s special areas of conservation, at the occupation of the Georgian quarter, and at a programme for mass education.

Courtesy of Adam Place Photography

Each project is original. Each project is fully articulated as an idea, but also as a policy. Policy makers can take these ideas and run with them, as can business people. In fact, one of the projects on food networks has already resulted in a new business being created.

Courtesy of Adam Place Photography

Merritt Bucholz, Professor of Architecture said “The University of Limerick has a contribution to make to the city. The School of Architecture has been producing IU workshops for several years, and it’s from this basis the current project has emerged. This year has been a new departure for us. The collaboration with Stephen Kinsella and his colleagues at the KBS is helping to make our ideas realizable. This is only the beginning.”

Courtesy of Adam Place Photography

Senior Lecturer in Economics Dr Stephen Kinsella said “This is the least boring thing I’ve done in years. IU has the potential to change how we do policy design in this country, and now we’ve proven the concept I think we need to make this model more widespread.”

Courtesy of Adam Place Photography

The project brought people from outside academia to input and to help test the robustness of the ideas. Policy makers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, local business people, visual artists, curators, property developers, accountants, quantity surveyors, economic development officers, city officials, local towns people, local heroes, and school kids all came and gave their thoughts. IU Limerick also engaged the public throughout the project, and their ideas will become part of the exhibit.

Downloads

High-res panel FOOD

High-res panel GEORGIAN

High-res panel SACs

High-res panel EDUCATION

Gallery