Design-in-Business strategy program

The program for designers involved:

• six half day workshops
• four two hour Roundtable workshops.

Design participants all received printed workshop material including case studies and proformas as part of the program.

The program was funded by Enterprise Connect . The workshops were facilitated by Greg Branson with input from Industrial and Interior designers.

The program involved 12 graphic design firms. Each of these made contact with and pitched to SME manufacturers. The South Eastern Business Network (SEBN) partnered with the dbc. SEBN undertook to contact and select 21 SME manufacturers for the designers to work with. SEBN also contributed by briefing the designers on the expectations of the SMEs (Design from the client side).

The SEBN promoted the program through numerous fax announcements to its members.
A large part of the success of the program can be attributed to the industry links established with SEBN.

The workshops
The workshops showed designers how to re-think the strategic role of design within a client’s business.

Designers were shown techniques for evolving design from a service/support/aesthetic activity to a core, strategic business role.

The program showed how design professionals can become credible, trusted, strategic business partners.

Designers learned how to broaden their thinking and to speak about design as integral in business strategies.

The six Design-in-Business half day workshops were:

Terms of Business - establishing the commercial base for your studio

Design from the client side - how design is used in SMEs

Design from the client side - a briefing from a client

Design as a strategic business tool - how design can be integrated with a business

The marketing of a design consultancy - developing demand for design services

A business case for design - how to present design as part of business strategy