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 Better by Design is a movement to build New Zealand’s awareness of, and expertise in, design-led business. Design is an enabling strategy that has been consistently proven to give businesses a competitive advantage.
Better by Design grew out of the Design Taskforce Strategy. It offers a programme of education and support initiatives to help New Zealand companies gain a competitive advantage in global markets by improving their design capability. Design-enabled companies are those that integrate design thinking into all aspects of their business, not just as an ‘add-on’ at the end or a bit of wrapping around a product.
Better by Design is now working with selected companies to help them become world-class design-led businesses. These are New Zealand companies with a proportion of revenue derived from exports, that have high growth aspirations and operate either in a significant market niche or with some proprietary IP or brand advantage.
Better by Design is a joint industry-government initiative with an independent group of design-led business experts overseeing the programme through the Better by Design Advisory Board. The programme is administered by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
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The Better by Design assistance programme includes:
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Design Audits and Mentoring – auditors identify where design can best enhance your business. Following the audit – a mentor will work with you to assess the findings.
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Design Project Funding - to support the development of a specific design project where the aim is to build a competitive advantage.
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Design Education – A range of design-led business courses developed in conjunction with the Tertiary Education commission. The first foundation course – Profit by Design – has just been delivered by The ICEHOUSE.
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Design Internships – a programme of managed industry internships for newly educated designers. Again the focus is working on commercially-focused projects to build design capability.
- Design in Business Academic Forum planned for early 2006.
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Design Directory – A comprehensive listing of New Zealand Designers.
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Better by Design website – the primary source of programme information and resources.
An example of ‘better by design’ in action is the Fisher & Paykel Dish Drawer. It’s been a platform for entering new export markets, positioned F&P as market innovators, increased F&P’s sales by nearly 500,000 units in five years and its uniqueness drives competitive advantage. “Design creates difference. We’ve built markets in 40 countries because our difference means something important to people right around the world”. Gary Paykel, Chairman, Fisher & Paykel. |
