Boost by Design programme

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 12 JANUARY 2017

DSEN and Creative Dundee are running a programme around the use of Design processes for social enterprises. The programme is free and open to all social enterprises that are fully trading and based locally,  through a short and easy application process – please see the how to get involved section below.

Four half day workshops (afternoons of 21st, 28th Feb and 6th, 14th Mar 2017), which will help your social enterprise to:

• Understand how using service design can improve its sustainability and growth.

• Use design tools to consider the future vision of your enterprise and develop a plan to achieve it. 

• Build, maintain and grow your communities both on and offline.

Three sessions of mentoring/support by designers and digital developers following the workshop programme for up to 8 social enterprises – selected through an easy open call process.

Boost by Design celebration event which brings together social enterprises and creative businesses in the city: an evening event with local speakers to share what they gained from the programme, encourage awareness of activities and opportunities across both sectors, and encourage potential future collaborations.

There is an increasingly widespread understanding that design can add significant value to organisations of numerous types. Over the last decade, a growing number of research, articles, reports and blogs have looked at companies investing in design, and the number of business schools offering modules and courses on this subject is rising.

This is partly down to the success of companies like Apple, which are typically associated with design. However, in practice, it is more about a widening remit for design that makes it applicable well beyond the traditional focus of products. Design is now frequently used to create user experiences and act as a primary motor of innovation.

There are numerous factors fuelling this trend. The economic downturn has put companies under increasing pressure to differentiate their offerings, linked design to traditional attributes of aesthetics, functionality and usability, but above all they regarded it as the capacity to solve customers’ problems. This means that design does not correspond just to a specific function  or group of people, but also to a way of thinking and working. In a business, design can shift the emphasis from products and services to clients and customers. 

Further details about the programme and to sign up can be found here: http://creativedundee.com/2016/11/boost-by-design/ 

Enquiries please contact Gillian Easson on gillian@creativedundee.com