Architect Amanda Bone, known for her work on television programs like "Home of the Year," is stepping into a new role as host for Dublin Design Week. The event, scheduled from September 16-20, aims to celebrate and showcase the diverse design talent within Ireland.
Bone, who has been passionate about architecture since childhood, sees parallels between different creative disciplines. "If you’re a designer, you’re a designer," she stated, emphasizing that core principles like inspiration, creativity, and process are universal across fields such as fashion, architecture, and garden design. She admitted to initial nervousness about interviewing fashion designers, a field she admires but has less direct experience in compared to architecture. However, she found the conversations illuminating, discovering significant overlaps in creative thinking and problem-solving.
This new project allows Bone more personal expression in her attire, a contrast to her television appearances where clothing must be coordinated with co-judges. "I have more freedom and it’s more me," she said. Bone's personal style favors designers like JW Anderson, for whom she notes an "architectural" quality and love of asymmetry, and Victoria Beckham, appreciated for her attention to detail and fluidity.
Bone described a particularly challenging JW Anderson dress that is so difficult to put on it has brought her to tears. "There’s so many different layers and it’s not symmetrical but once I’m in it, it’s fantastic but actually, it’s driven me to tears," she explained, adding with a laugh, "It’s an effort."
A Career in Design
Bone's own career path exemplifies the evolving nature of design professions. She has worked as a practicing architect, a lecturer, and a television presenter. She believes these different roles complement each other, feeding her experience and insights across her various endeavors. "For me, each of those careers benefits the other because they feed into each other," she stated.
Dublin Design Week, in partnership with Range Rover, features a wide array of design professionals, including architects O’Donnell + Tuomey and Níall McLaughlin, interior designers Róisín Lafferty and Brian Woulfe, and garden designer Diarmuid Gavin. The event aims to provide the public with insights into the creative processes of these individuals.
Bone's involvement in "Home of the Year" was a deliberate effort to foster a broader discussion about design. "That was one of the reasons I wanted to do Home Of The Year because I wanted to try and create a discussion about design and offer helpful hints or advice or explain to people who weren’t in the profession," she said. She expressed admiration for the contestants' dedication and the effort put into their homes, noting the incredible work of Irish homeowners.
Bone also reflected on the passing of her "Home of the Year" co-presenter, Hugh Wallace, remembering his "infectious energy" and openness. She noted that the show's success is also a testament to the contestants' contributions.
She highlighted the importance of timelessness in design, citing figures like Eileen Gray, Lina Bo Bardi, and Louis Kahn as inspirations whose work maintains relevance over time. The event organizers, Jane and Sarah McDonnell, are described by Bone as "progressive" and invested in showcasing high-quality Irish design.