• Q. What is the government’s objective behind the Design for Enterprises initiative?

    A. Design for Enterprises (DFE) is a national strategy created by Design Singapore Council, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and SPRING Singapore, to synergize efforts to drive the adoption of design as strategic differentiator and enabler to raise the competitiveness of Singapore-based enterprises.

  • Q. How do the three government agencies work together on the DFE?

    A. SPRING Singapore as the enterprise development agency in Singapore, and IE Singapore, the mandate agency in promoting trade and development among Singapore-based enterprises have been combining efforts to promote the growth of Singapore enterprises. In this regard, both agencies will therefore channel more efforts to encourage design-ready enterprises to build up their design capabilities, by providing targeted assistance and incentives to enable enterprises to leverage on good design for competitive advantage.

    In addition, both agencies work hand-in-hand with Design Singapore Council (Dsg), who will focus efforts in broad-based education and outreach, through the Design for Enterprises Centre and website, raising awareness on the value of design and how design can bring about business growth. Dsg will also support and enhance the international competitiveness of Singapore-based designers and work with the education institutions to ensure that they deliver the next generation of professionals to support the design needs of enterprises.

  • Q. What can Design for Enterprises (DFE) do for my company?

    A. The DFE initiative is based on a three-pronged approach targeted at assisting enterprises at all levels of design capabilities:
    1. Design Touch
      Broad-based education and outreach workshops/seminars aimed at enterprises unfamiliar with design, to elevate awareness of the value of design as a strategic business tool.
       
    2. Design Engage
      Expert-guided assistance to help design-ready enterprises build design capabilities and integrate strategic design thinking holistically into their business process, operations and strategies. At this stage, co-funding grants from Dsg, IES and SPRING are available to support the strategic adoption of design innovation.
       
    3. Design Excel
      Platforms and programmes to nurture and recognise enterprises which have reached a high level of design maturity to foster excellence in design.

  • Q. How does Design Engage work?

    A. Design Engage is a 3-year pilot programme to help design-ready enterprises build up their design capabilities and internalize strategic design thinking into their business operations and strategies for competitive advantage.

    The core of the programme lies in Phase 1. Instead of the conventional diagnostic or roadmap done by external consultants, the programme will equip enterprises with the tools, methodologies and mainframe to devote effort, time and resources to rethink their business strategies that will unlock business-building opportunities.

    Through transfer of knowledge and experience, and guidance by the Design Facilitators, core teams within enterprises will not only be able to assess their own company in terms of design level but also acquire the skills and thinking to develop their own design business strategies.

  • Q. Who are the Design Facilitators? How were they chosen? Why would they be able to help?

    A. Design Facilitators are teams of experts well-versed in both design and business management. They will be guiding enterprises using their proprietary methodologies to achieve the learning outcomes and objectives of Phase 1.

    NOTE: There is a need to differentiate between Design Facilitators and Design Consultants. Design Facilitators play the mentoring role to help companies in the adoption of design (Phase 1 type of expertise); while design consultants provide design services that enable companies to put into practice the design strategies that they have mapped out (Phase 2 type of expertise).

    Design Facilitators are chosen based on a list of qualifying criteria developed to assess them before they are officially appointed as Design Facilitators. These criteria include strong background in design and business management, proven methodologies in design principles and experience in working with enterprises and teams. For a start, there are 4 of them, 2 locally-based and 2 based overseas. As design is a relatively new capability area in Singapore, it has been necessary to bring in reputable and high-calibre design think-tanks from overseas.

    For more detailed information on what does Design Engage Programme offer to companies, please visit:

    Design for Enterprises Website: www.designforenterprises.sg/assistance.aspx
    SPRING Singapore Website: www.spring.gov.sg/EnterpriseIndustry/BC/DE/Pages/design-engage-programme.aspx
    IE Singapore Website: www.iesingapore.gov.sg

  • Q. Being under a government ministry, are there tax rebates or incentives?

    A. There are various types of government assistance programmes offered by the government agencies. For more information, enterprises can contact the Design for Enterprises Centre hotline at +65 6333 3737 or email to info@designforenterprises.sg. Our Centre Managers will be able to access on the type of assistance programme that your company can apply for.

  • Q. Could DFE recommend a designer for my company instead of us sourcing for our own from the Design Directory?

    A. As a government agency, we are not allowed to make specific recommendations, but what we can do instead, is to provide useful listings of organizations that can help your business. Please visit the Design Directory on our DFE website for a listing of Singapore-based Design Firms. In this website, companies can also find comprehensive information on the assistance grants offered by DFE in the About DFE section, as well as success stories in the Case Studies section.

    Alternatively, there are design associations in Singapore that can advise on finding a designer. These include:
    • Association of Accredited Advertising Agents
    • Designers Association Singapore
    • Interior Design Confederation (Singapore)
    • Singapore Furniture Industry Council
    • Singapore Institute of Architects
    • Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects
    • Singapore Institute of Planners
    • Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore)
    • The Design Society

  • Q. I already have a design in mind. Can I just get a registered Design Firm to look at it for professional advice?

    A. DFE is an advocate for meaningful partnerships and is a platform for designers to meet and work with enterprises to share on how design can make a difference to their businesses. In general, we would encourage a full partnership rather than just an advisory session. However, DFE is neutral if both parties are agreeable to the arrangement.