Danielle Townsend

Danielle Townsend is a designer, educator, and strategist committed to advancing the design sector as a centre of excellence while supporting early-career graduates. As the founder of BOUNCE, Danielle has created an event at the intersection of experimentation, process and critical discourse inspiring design professionals and fostering meaningful connections across the creative community. Through this work she is galvanising the design community, through a cutting-edge interactional educational model, brought to life though the Design Challenge, and delivered in partnership with selected agencies. She is committed to showing the application of creative thinking in a real-world context, that is articulated for, and accessible to those outside of the design community. Alongside her work with BOUNCE, she serves as a Board Director at the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) and works as an independent design and education consultant, leading initiatives to enhance professionalism in the sector, elevate academic standards, and bridge the gap between industry and education. Danielle co-founded The New Now graduate platform with former IDI President Kim Mackenzie-Doyle. This pioneering talent directory connects early-career designers with employers, providing crucial support as they launch their professional journeys. With a background in practice and education, she served as Director of Programmes and Head of Department in higher education, and has developed and taught on design Masters and Degree programmes across Ireland, serving as external examiner, and contributing to numerous validation panels, shaping the future of design education. An advocate for design excellence, Danielle is a sought after juror, and is actively involved in assessing a range of prestigious awards, including European Design Awards, 100 Archive, Irish Print Awards, Universal Design Awards for the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, and, student assessment for International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) and IDI Graduate Design Awards. She recently judged the Creative Business Cup Ireland delivered by CREW and the Western Development Commission (WDC). Danielle’s work extends to the government forum for the Commercial Creative Sector under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) and Creative Ireland, where she lead the development of programmes that address research, professional accreditation, and graduate opportunities. She is particularly focused on exploring the intersection of creative leadership and entrepreneurship, contributing to the growth of Ireland’s commercial design landscape. With significant experience in graphic design, Danielle has led numerous commercial projects and remains committed to lifelong learning, often engaging in educational programs herself. Her dedication to fostering innovation and excellence continues to inspire the next generation of creatives and drive meaningful progress within the design sector.