Design 4 Growth – Dublin City LEO

Design 4 Growth was launched on the 17th of September in the Wood Quay Venue, Civic Offices by Minister Ged Nash TD in the presence of Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh.

The Scheme is an outcome of the PIVOT Dublin Hidden Rooms programme 2014 and was devised in response to challenges identified by the Local Enterprise Office Dublin City with respect to incentivising micro-businesses to engage with designers to assist them in applying the effective use of design in developing their businesses.

Client profile

Design 4 Growth is aimed at businesses meeting the following criteria:

Location: Dublin city based businesses (Dublin City, DLR, Fingal, South Dublin)
Size: 3+ employees. Preference will be given to micro enterprises.
Stage of business: Trading for over 2 years

The further stages of the programme yet to be delivered is as follows. Further update reports will be provided at key stages of delivery of the project.

Outline of the scheme

Design 4 Growth is a scheme to assist small businesses in using design strategy methods to aid their development. It involves providing subsidised design consultancy services to businesses which will:

• Conduct reviews to analyse their objectives and resources and assess strengths and weaknesses of design in all aspects of the business.
• Assist them in identifying opportunities for how design could improve business performance.
• Assist the business owner in developing a brief for a project to further their objectives
• Assist with commissioning the design services required to implement the project
• The scheme will then provide funding to subsidise the design services required to implement the project.

Design 4 Growth will provide an opportunity for 50 businesses to attend an introductory workshop. The Scheme has four stages to it, set out below.

Stage 1: Open call and introductory briefing – 50 Businesses Following an open call businesses are registering an interest in participating in the scheme and committing to attending a general briefing session on 26th January 2016. This session will introduce them to the strategic use of design, illustrating examples of small businesses that have implemented such a design approach. The session should provide businesses with an understanding of potential use of design strategy in business development, with generalised advice (i.e. not specific to their own businesses). The session will also allow the businesses to meet with the Design Strategists and the Senior Design Strategist.

Client fee €10

Stage 2: Audits and advice to reduced group – 15 Businesses Following the briefing workshop, a design review service will be made available to a smaller number of participating clients who fall within the client profile listed above. This will involve a review of a client’s business by a Design Strategist utilising a template developed for the scheme through meeting clients at their premises, an analysis of the issues and challenges and a feedback consultation with recommendations on ways in which design strategy could assist with business development.

Client fee €100

Stage 3: Design strategy service delivery for five participants – 5 Businesses The Design Strategist will work with the client over a defined period to develop a brief for implementing the recommended approach and assist in commissioning the necessary design services for developing their business. The focus in the brief development will be on developing profits and exports and the potential for job creation.

Client fee €200 (Refundable at Stage 4)

Stage 4: Implementation of recommended actions– 5 Businesses At the implementation stage, vouchers for design services will be made available to the client for fulfilling the brief. The services may be commissioned from other specialist designers e.g. industrial designers, web designers, branding or identity designers. The Design Strategist will provide ongoing advice and assistance to the client during the design service. The value of the voucher will be €2,300 + €200 refund of the fee for Stage 3.

Client fee: 50% cost of implementation to match value of voucher (€2,500).

Stage 5: Documentation, review and case studies Design Strategists will have documented the process, with an end review to measure performance against particular criteria (identified during the diagnostic work at Stage 2) to assist ongoing development. This information will be presented as Case Studies to inform the future development of the Design 4 Growth scheme.

Application process

As places for Design 4 Growth will be limited, firms will be prioritised for bookings based on how they meet the criteria listed above.

Applications to attend the training workshop can be made by contacting Dublin City Local Enterprise Office:

Phone: 01 222 5611

Email: info@leo.dublincity.ie