An online survey conducted by esprimi.eu among employers and entrepreneurs in Malta revealed that innovation, technology and competitive advantage are the three words mostly associated with design. The results were presented by Business Leaders Malta CEO Morgan Parnis at the recent ‘Innovation through design’ conference held at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.
The research shows that companies employing five to nine employees associated design with competitive advantage to the same extent as they did with ‘innovation’. Companies employing 10-250 employees associated design primarily with ‘innovation’ followed by ‘development of client oriented goods and services’.
Following the appointment of the Malta Business Bureau as the ambassador for the European Commission’s Design for Europe programme in Malta, the MBB, in collaboration with the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and the Enterprise Europe Network, has successfully kicked off its first design initiative which saw the participation of 140 individuals from both the private and public sector.
The aim of the event was to promote various methods of tapping innovative design concepts, encourage start-ups, SMEs and members of the public sector to add value to their products and services as well as to increase the reach of the Design for Europe programme in Malta.
In his opening address, MBB president Mario Spiteri welcomed all participants and speakers and introduced the rationale behind the design initiative expressing his hopes for the conference to inspire participants to integrate design even further in their business models, strategies and services. Mr Spiteri commented that “although it is often underestimated, design can bring significant benefits and solutions to businesses; most importantly it opens up the doors for valuable opportunities.”
The event was moderated by MBB CEO Joe Tanti, who welcomed keynote speaker Kamil Michlewski, brand strategy consultant at the Value Engineers, London. Dr Michlewski presented best practice case studies, including that of the Danish Design Ladder, which uses design as a strategy coupled with the benefits of the design approach to business and government organisations.
In his presentation, Dr Michlewski highlighted the importance of deeper integration of design and designers. This tied in with his recent book, published earlier this year, Design Attitude.
A vibrant panel debate moderated by Times of Malta assistant editor Vanessa Macdonald consisted of speakers from diverse professional backgrounds. The panellists, including Dr Michlewski, David Xuereb, CEO QP Management, Richard Mifsud, senior manager JP Advertising and Tanya Sammut-Bonnici, head of the marketing department at the University of Malta.
Following the panel debate, Caldon Mercieca, project leader of the Valletta Design Cluster, demonstrated the various Design Cluster initiatives underway to support local private sectors that use design in order to help them to internationalise.
Nancy Caruana, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, reiterated the ministry’s support for the MBB’s initiative and the importance of design for economic growth. Ms Caruana remarked: “Businesses can only thrive by being leaders in the market. Being leaders in the market implies change, not for the sake of change, but for delivering a better product, a better service, to the consumer, a product or a service which is unique in the marketplace”.
Design for Europe is the public name of the European Commission’s European Design Innovation Platform (EDIP). Through this project, MBB CEO Joe Tanti will join a number of Design for Europe Ambassadors who are being appointed in each of the 28 EU member States. For more information about the Innovation through Design initiative, one may contact Ana Vella on avella@mbb.org.mt or telephone 2125 1719.