Kildare man’s animation for Ireland's first space mission up for award
Naas animator Alan Dunne shortlisted for Irish Design Excellence Award for All Ways Home, inspired by Ireland’s first satellite mission, EIRSAT-1
When Alan Dunne was a youngster growing up in Naas, creativity was something to be encouraged.
"My late mother, Nora, would have been into painting. There was always art materials in the house and we were always allowed to play around with art. That would have been a huge thing – access to art materials,” he explains.
“I would also have been a big reader of The Beano and I loved drawing cartoons.”
Given his childhood interests, it was no surprise that Alan went on to study Visual Communications in NCAD after graduating from Naas CBS. Now living in Sallins with his wife Grainne and son Tadhg, the work of the Kildare-based illustrator and animator has received national acclaim. He has been shortlisted for the inaugural Irish Design Excellence Award (iDEA) for All Ways Home, a three-minute animation inspired by Ireland’s first satellite mission, EIRSAT-1. The project originated through UCD, where astrophysicist Lorraine O’Hanlon helped drive a STEAM initiative bringing together space science, creativity and young people. As part of the project, 12 secondary school students developed a poem exploring home, belonging and identity, which was later engraved onto the EIRSAT-1 satellite. It was launched in December 2023 by a Falcon rocket in America.
Alan was commissioned to bring those words to life visually, developing a story around family, stargazing, voyage and finding your way home, using the students’ own voices and an original soundscape composed by Phil Brookes.
"I just story boarded the visuals and my reaction to the poem. I also wanted to reflect the voices of the students, to try to put myself in their shoes and reflect their experiences,” said Alan.
"I was delighted to be part of the project, to reflect that moment in time. The satellite was only the size of a shoe box, but it represented so much more,” he said.
Alan wanted to show the connection to home, despite the vastness of space incorporating nature, gardens and themes of childhood. He even filmed his own son running around the garden with a toy rocket in his preparatory work for the animation. All Ways Home is shortlisted alongside projects including Oscar-nominated short films and internationally acclaimed visual arts and design work, with the inaugural iDEA winner to be announced in Kilkenny on 7 November as part of Irish Design Week. Prior to setting out as an independent illustrator ten years ago, Alan worked for RTE’s graphic design department working on broadcast tiles, sequencing and graphics for TV. Since starting out on this new chapter, he has engaged in a wide variety of projects such as illustrating children’s books, designing postage stamps, carrying out work for museums, working on comics and writing his own graphic novels.
"Every day is different, Every project is different,” he explains.
He loves the art of storytelling and researching each project. Teaching part-time at NCAD, Alan lectures in Moving Image Design.
He is working on a graphic novel on the Irish land wars with a chapter soon to be published in the journal Pandemonium in November. He is also keen to introduce new readers to the graphic novel genre.
Alan is also supported by his proud dad, John and his partner Nuala.
When asked about AI’s influence on art and illustration, Alan says “I suppose there is that threat that it will replace human made art, but at the same time, by its nature, people are starting to see it for what it is, they recognise AI slop online.”
He says the process of creating art makes art what it is. He emphasises that if you take that stage out, you are left with a product that is empty and manufactured.
"When photography first came on the scene, it was proclaimed the end of painting. Photography found its place, but painting remained. Photography captures reality, but painting is made my the human hand.”