The Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) launched the publication "Look for Designers: Your Design Partners to Increasing Business Competitiveness".
In light of the recent global shift to design as a high value-added production strategy, this book acts as a guide for Hong Kong businesses looking to hire designers to increase effectiveness. Incorporating the work and contact information of over 80 local design talents, this book is also a directory for companies to identify their suitable design partner.
Hong Kong businesses have been facing certain challenges in recent years. Low value-added production strategies are no longer enough for businesses to remain competitive. Historically, many high performing economies have shifted their focus to the creative industries in order to help create high value-added products and services locally and maintain their competitive edge.
In order for Hong Kong to continue leading as an important high value-added economy in Asia, "Look for Designers" remarks that it is essential for this country's economy to concentrate on design. To support Hong Kong's transformation, businesses must learn to use design services effectively, while designers must also learn to provide effective services to businesses.
Design is no longer just "nice-to-have"; it is imperative for businesses to embrace design to be able to become highly competitive in the market in the near future.
To ensure that Hong Kong's industries and businesses can enjoy sustainable growth under the situation, the Hong Kong Designers Association has initiated a first of its kind project, aiming to better match the strengths of local businesses and the creative force by making it easier for businesses to "Look for Designers" to help them bring in new values.
"Look for Designers" discusses the changing role of designers. As the relationship between design and business grows, HKDA encourages professional designers to act as strategic partners of clients so as to work out long-term business strategies together and develop sustainable solutions that can take care of the stakeholders and perspectives involved.
No matter how good the designer may be, the success and effectiveness of the design solution always depends on the relationship between the client and their design partners. HKDA's 'Looking for Designers' is an important guide for those developing these effective partnerships, helping businesses increase their rate of success and remain competitive.