Tender Brief: Development of a New Visual Identity for Dance Ireland
PDF Tender Brief Available here
ABOUT DANCE IRELAND
We are embarking on an exciting new chapter guided by our new strategy (2025 – 2028), which champions ambition, excellence, and sustainability. As such, the new visual identity will play a vital role in communicating our values and goals to our members, stakeholders, and the wider public.
Funded by the Arts Council, Dance Ireland is the national dance development organisation, and true to our origins, we are proud to continue to be the representative body for the professional dance community.
Established 35 years ago as the Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland, our founding principles centred on providing support, resources, and representation; working towards a sustainable dance sector in Ireland. We continue to deliver on these principles, investing in artists and art form development, building a strong infrastructure and programme of supports that has national and international reach.
We champion the needs of our Members and work to foster an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable dance sector that supports creativity, collaboration, and excellence. Our members represent the breadth of the dance sector and include professional artists and choreographers, organisations and educational institutions, pre-professional and early career artists and students, as well as dance associates who work in support of dance and contribute to sector development representing a broad spectrum of dance genres and practices, from traditional Irish dance to contemporary, ballet and urban styles.
Three values inform our new Strategy 2024-28 - how we plan, implement, and deliver our programme and manage our business in support of artists and art-form development.
- Sustainability: To ensure the future of Dance Ireland as a well-managed, well-funded, and well-governed organisation. For a career in dance to be a viable and accessible option, with appropriate support to develop and sustain a healthy work-life balance. For the dance industry to be mindful of its environmental impact, supporting social change, and leading by example.
- Interdependence: Acknowledging that no artist is truly independent – all parties are dependent on each other to ensure a thriving dance ecology. Ensuring that all the working parts of the dance ecology are connected, engaged, and supportive; with a shared intention to maintain quality and raise ambition in the art form. That no person will feel alone or isolated at any point in their dance career.
- Inclusion: For the power of dance to connect, to include, and to embrace difference as a means to learn and grow together, to be valued and supported. That all who choose to work in dance will see themselves reflected in the work of Dance Ireland and experience a warm welcome. For the breadth and diversity of creative and performance practices in dance to be embraced and valued by Dance Ireland through our work, supports, and Membership.
We will achieve this through strategic investment in the following priority areas: Building Expertise; Fostering Innovation; Deepening Connection; Advancing Advocacy. Building knowledge, insight, relationships, and visibility for dance across all genres and styles. Acknowledgement of the place of dance as a cultural cornerstone of society, and a desire for this to be among the first things associated with Irish culture at home and abroad.
OVERVIEW
Dance Ireland is seeking proposals from experienced and innovative design agencies or professionals to create a new visual identity that reflects the diversity, dynamism, and ambition of our organisation and its Members. This project will consist of two distinct phases:
- Development of the Visual Identity
- Application of the Visual Identity to the New Website
PROJECT SCOPE
Phase 1: Development of the Visual Identity
This phase will involve:
Design of a Fresh and Vibrant Visual Identity: A new logo, colour palette, typography, and overall look and feel that:
- Reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Dance Ireland’s membership, the range of dance genres and the future of dance nationally and internationally
- Aligns with Dance Ireland’s strategy and core values of Sustainability, Interdependence and Inclusion
- Resonates with diverse audiences, including dance professionals, enthusiasts, funders, and the public.
Creation of Visual Identity Guidelines:
- A comprehensive document outlining the correct use of the new visual identity across all media (print, online, signage, merchandise, etc.).
- Guidance on logo usage, typography, colours, and imagery.
Development of Online and Print Templates:
- Customisable templates for use in communications, including presentations, reports, posters, newsletters, and social media.
- Design of Dance Ireland strategy document and assets
Phase 2: Application of the Visual Identity to the New Website
This phase will involve:
- Design Integration: Applying the new visual identity to Dance Ireland’s upcoming website to ensure consistency, user engagement, and a dynamic online presence.
- Collaboration: Working with Dance Ireland’s website development team and appointed web developer to ensure seamless integration of the new design.
Timeline: TBC
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
- Diversity and Inclusivity: The design should reflect movement, breath and space, be current and relevant to Dance Ireland, its Members, dance developments nationally and internationally
- Scalability: The visual identity must be adaptable for use across a wide range of mediums and platforms, from social media to large-scale branding inside and outside the DanceHouse.
TENDER REQUIREMENTS
Interested applicants are asked to provide the following:
- Company/Designer Profile: An overview of your organisation
- Portfolio: Examples of previous work
- Approach and Methodology: Outline how you plan to deliver the project, including your approach to research, design, and collaboration.
- Fee Proposal: A detailed breakdown of costs for each phase of the project.
TIMELINE
Tender Submission Deadline: Monday 27 January
Selection of Designer/Agency: Monday 3 February
Phase 1 Completion Deadline: Tuesday 18 March for the Strategy – to be launched at the end of March; full templates and guidelines 27 March
Phase 2 Completion Deadline: TBC
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Please submit your tender proposal as a PDF document to sheila.creevey@danceireland.ie by 5.00pm on Monday 27 January
Any queries regarding the tender can be directed to jeanette.keane@danceireland.ie