SINGAPORE, NOVEMBER 16, 2011: Concluding the seventh annual meeting of the DesignSingapore Council International Advisory Panel (IAP), the members put forward suggestions to use Design to harness new opportunities presented by rapid advances in digital technology. The panel, chaired by Mr. Edmund
Cheng, comprised of renowned international design and business leaders from Australia, the United States, Europe and Japan.
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Gunning for Global: The Design Singapore Council designs for the future
During their time in Singapore, the Panel visited an Interactive Digital Media (IDM) research centre, and also met researchers and developers from other research institutions and companies. This gave them an overview of the challenges for technology innovators in Singapore, setting the context for them to explore how Design can make a significant difference. By using Design as a differentiator, Singapore enterprises will also be able to change the shape of the growth curve with a better understanding of the user experience.
"Singapore business needs to be agile and flexible in order to take advantage of the investments in infocomm and media infrastructure," said Mr. Cheng. "The Design process can help businesses better understand the new global consumer and how we can tailor a user experience that will create a competitive advantage for Singapore through game-changing innovation."
The panel made some key observations that looked at better addressing economic challenges. Mr. Richard Seymour, Co-founder,Seymourpowell, concluded that there is "A Convenient Truth, where
globally we´re not being held back by technology, but by our imagination. Singapore´s opportunity is to bring human needs and desires to technological innovation through design."
Chris Bangle, Managing Director, Chris Bangle Associates Srl, elaborated, "Design is often misunderstood, especially in a business and technology context. The process should be referred to as `Designing´ because it is an interactive process that when applied at the outset of ideation, catalyses the adoption of technological innovation and acts as an economic multiplier."
The Panel also suggested that Singapore develop a global initiative, driven by international thought
leaders from multiple disciplines to explore how Design has been integral to the success of some of the world´s most popular technology products. This platform would also clearly articulate Singapore´s ambition to focus on the global imperative to zoom in on human needs as a core principle of Designing and how products can be made more human and desirable.
DesignSingapore will review these proposals in further depth and work with sister Government agencies and parties in the private sector to test the feasibility of these plans and explore bringing
these programs to life.
