Your perspectives on design and emerging economies

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Your perspectives on this issue

Addressing: Supporting growth in the creative economy

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- Have you faced competition from designers from emerging economies for work abroad or in the UK?

- Do you think the use of design can help emerging economies emerge even faster as a significant threat to established Western economies, products and services?

- How could the Design Council work with design bodies in other countries to help integrate design thinking into more companies in emerging economies?

Stephen Knowles

Managing Director, Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC)

Globalisation does pose a threat to the UK design industry but it also creates opportunities. With so many products made in China, 'Designed in China' is the obvious next step and stated goal of the Chinese. To prosper, UK companies need to go and claim their stake in the planned 20% annual growth in China's creative industries. Read what Stephen Knowles has to say on globalisation for growth in this New Design Magazine article.

David Kester

Design Council Chief Executive

India today is reaping the rewards of the investment it made in design education when, following a report made by Charles and Ray after they had visited India, it established the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedebad, India’s nearest equivalent to the Royal College.

John Thackara

Director of Dott 07 and Doors of Perception

Is our competitiveness imperilled by developing countries catching up with us? My answer is no. Because in so called developing or emerging countries, but also here in the UK, the rules of competition are changing profoundly and irrevocably. We are all emerging economies now. We are in a transition from mindless development which has characterised most of our careers to design mindfulness. Now we need to ask, how best shall we use our creativity and innovation to stay ahead in the game?

Recent submissions

Stephen Knowles, Managing Director of Industrial Design Consultancy speaking in Issue 56 of New Design in January 2008

Many Indian companies are now actively looking to engage Western design consultancies in order to compete in world markets and differentiate themselves from competition. These companies are prepared to pay UK rates, but must be convinced that the consultancy can deliver a world class service, whilst understanding the cultural and commercial subtleties of the Indian market.
So what does this mean for UK design firms considering dipping toes into Asian waters? Firstly, neither China nor India is for the faint hearted. In order to succeed, it is necessary to have a clear idea of what you are looking to achieve, with a long term strategic commitment to building relationships and winning work (think year not months). Good representation on the ground is essential, as well as world class design and service.

John McFall, Chairman Treasury Select Committee said in December 2006

On recent visits to China and India I witnessed the most innovative, skilled practices, not least in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. We have a five- to ten-year window of opportunity to face this challenge from many countries - small and large - in Asia and Latin America. The successful countries of tomorrow are already planning ten years ahead