Small Business Development by Design

Imagine…

Small Business Development BY DESIGN D. Estwick, University of the Southern Caribbean

Key Question “Can an organised government body improve the local MSE sector, and by extension, support the economic development of Trinidad and Tobago through a design-led development system that facilitates collaborations between micro and small enterprises (MSEs), craftsmen, artisans, engineers, manufacturers and designers?”

Design, Government, Local Context, Challenges, Possibilities, Implications for Progress

D.E.

Local Context •

“Viable micro and small businesses are recognised as the key to economic diversification and social transformation at the very basic level.” - Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) Policy for Trinidad and Tobago 2013-2016

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Design - a key player in the realisation of stated initiatives for small businesses.

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Design value by MSEs - government charts the course.

D.E.

“Plan… make decisions… create… show how… to plan and make… for a specific use or purpose… to plan [something] in your mind.” - Merriam-Webster dictionary

“Skills to innovate… solve problems… bring creativity… visualisation ability… the ability to deliver a product… designers can turn their hand to it.”

- The Design Experience (Cooper & Press, 2003, p.195)

D.E.

- Debbie-Ann Estwick, 2015) D.E.

Who/what are designers?

Prettifiers, sprinklers of magical pixie dust to make things fun, attractive and “stush” Planners, creators, solution providers

Who or what are designers? There is a need for reconciliation between these views in the Caribbean by way of design education D.E.

“The steering mechanism for a given society.”

- Professor Dr Harold Damerow (study.com)

If little value is placed on design, we may expect likewise from businesses. Government charts the course. D.E.

Policy Matters

Challenges & Possibilities

D.E.

A Call for

s d r a d n a t S n Desig

Challenges & Possibilities

D.E.

Designers Design Challenges & Possibilities

D.E.

Chief Cook

&

Bottle Washer Challenges & Possibilities

D.E.

Challenges & Possibilities

D.E.

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The fight for world peace

Implications for Progress

D.E.

FOCUS

Say “No” to Privilege

Implications for Progress

D.E.

Remove the Cloak of Mystery

Implications for Progress

D.E.

Reality Check:

Does it Work? Is it effective?

Challenges, Possibilities, Workable Solutions

D.E.

Warning: Be aware of design. “Be alert. Be awareful, be very very very very careful.” -

- Winnie the Pooh

Author - A. A. Milne

Challenges, Possibilities, Workable Solutions

D.E.

Thank You

Photo images purchased from shutterstock.com Thanks to interviewees Dean Arlen, Marlon Darbeau, Alicia Francis, Hans Severloh