1. Does design
matter to SMEs?

2. Yes.
Thank you.
Any questions?

3. Why should you believe me? 1. www.dba.org.uk 2. www.beda.org
Design Business Association
EESC
Why should you believe me? 1. 2.
3. European Design Leadership Board
4. Work both sides of the fence
5. 25 years in this industry
6. I’m not in the habit of lying!
7. You don’t have to, simply believe the evidence.

4. 1. DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 20 years old
Design Business Association
EESC
The evidence
1. DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 20 years old
2. Entries written by industry and their designers
3. Judged by leaders in industry
4. Must prove value created by design alone
5. Growing number of entries every year
6. Design works in SMEs and Globals
7. Positions design as a business tool
8. Outcome not output
9. Finance Director’s best friend
10. Gets those commissioning work to ask for more

5. EDLB Challenge from Vice President Tajani:
Design Business Association
EESC
EDLB Challenge from Vice President Tajani:
“….to enhance design’s long-term contribution to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through increased competitiveness and the pursuit of a better quality of life for all the citizens of Europe.”

6. Design for Growth and Prosperity launched Sept 2012
Design Business Association
EESC
Design for Growth and Prosperity launched Sept 2012
Six strategic design actions:
1. Differentiating European design on global scale
2. Positioning design within the European innovation system
3. Design for innovative and competitive enterprises
4. Design for an innovative public sector
5. Positioning design research for the 21st century
6. Design competencies for the 21st century

7. Design = Value

8. Quality of life

9. Industrial Policy Communication Update
Design Business Association
EESC
Industrial Policy Communication Update
“Wider use of design, as well as other non-technological innovations, is one of the key drivers for developing high value products, increasing productivity and improving resource efficiency.”

10. Design Action Plan launched September 2013 Strategic areas for action:
Design Business Association
EESC
Design Action Plan launched September 2013
Strategic areas for action:
— Promote understanding of design’s impact on innovation
— Promote design-driven innovation in industries to strengthen competitiveness
— Promote the adoption of design to drive renewal in the public sector
Plan supported by 6 co-financed projects and EDIP.

11. Piper Private Equity backed the Bottlegreen Management team in an MBO and set out to build a brand capable of ongoing profitable growth.
Research showed that brand awareness and penetration was low, while repeat purchase was high – selling only in Waitrose.
create an identity that gave the brand visibility, cohesion and a clear positioning in a busy marketplace.
Ziggurat Brands based their design theme on the idea of leaving an impression through the pressing of flowers. T
Piper Private Equity managed an exit after less than four years and made 500% on their original investment.
Overall annual sales grew from £7.9m in 2007 to £14.2m by 2010, an uplift of 79.7%.
Cordials saw an uplift in sales of 74%, set against category growth of just 15%

13. 50% reduction in accidents

14. 17% price increase

15. Market stall to 4 supermarkets in 13 months
As a small brand with stalls in stations such as Waterloo and Victoria, MOMA! founder Tom Mercer knew that to grow the brand they needed to increase their distribution within other retailers and increase wholesale revenues.
Bold, direct and immediate, the new design was inspired by the passion, power and language of political campaigns.
Wholesale revenue increased from £0.5m to £1.5m in the 13 months following the redesign,
with wholesale value and volume growing by 200%.
And from a handful of stalls in London train stations, MOMA! now stands proud on the shelves of hundreds of major outlets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots and Waitrose.

16. What can you measure? Internal Communications Department
Design Business Association
ESSC
What can you measure?
Internal Communications Department
- improved employee perception of the brand (morale)
- increased understanding of purpose/principles
- brand promises
- behaviour change (absenteeism/H&S/pensions adoption)
- reduced organisational costs
- reduced brand communications costs
- better talent recruited
- increased share price
Mention DEA cases studies online

17. What can you measure? Industrial/product development/design
Design Business Association
ESSC
What can you measure?
Industrial/product development/design
- increased profit by creating increased value
- cutting costs drives profit to the bottom line
- increased distribution/buyers stock your product
- consumer attitude shifts
- payback period cut
- market share growth
- opening up new markets (product/export)
- new consumer group targeted

18. Your assignment…should you chose to accept it…
Design Business Association
EESC
Your assignment…should you chose to accept it…
— Influencers: to find the most effective policy/programme-mix for getting this right – environment in which we all trade
— SME’s: put design at the heart of their business – differentiate (not i) or die, long-term value creation
— EC: no subsidies for design; €design spend evidenced; speed up financing; lead by example; campaign for design; skills development needed
— Culture of enterprise in Europe

19.
@DBADeborah