As exhibited in the realms of arts, literature, architecture, fashion, and industrial design, design not only adds higher value to the ultimate product or service, but is also tricky to replicate. Plants may always move to a cheaper location, but artists rarely do. That is why it's high time for India to transition from a Made in India to a Design in India strategy.
If we enhance our design skills, India could be more competitive. This transformation would necessitate the development of three important skills: Developing the ability to see the larger picture, collaborating with the local market to create practical solutions, and taking a more methodical approach to problem-solving rather than improvising or relying on short term fixes.
Thirdly, adopting a more systematic approach to problem solving, such as design thinking, which allows for empathy-driven, prototype-based, iterative approaches to problem solving.
Both, corporations and organisations must seriously examine how to enhance India's capabilities as a world-class designer of tangible and intangible products in order to provide a longer-term strategic advantage. This is something that could only be accomplished by design, not by chance or rhetoric.
Design aids in product differentiation, cost savings, increased efficiencies, the creation of memorable brands, and the presentation of items in a pleasing manner. Design not only makes financial sense, but it also has a positive impact on the environment and society.
The importance of design as a revolutionary force in society capable of serving as a nation's principal engine of growth is widely acknowledged. It's past time for our industry and businesses to acknowledge this and embrace design as a critical component of the marketplace. To establish and maintain a competitive advantage in a global environment, businesses must put design at the centre of their corporate strategy.
The design sector is a modest but important part of the economy. The creative industry functions as a multiplier. The Indian design sector has had considerable growth in recent years, with increased demand, a growing number of enterprises, and increased turnover. The number of design firms is increasing, and firms that already exist are growing as well. In the design industry, there is a lot of entrepreneurial activity. Existing businesses are converging even more by expanding their service offerings across a wide range of design disciplines.
The key challenges ahead of us are to raise public sector design awareness, enhance customer service through design, encourage design use in small businesses, encourage the role of smart design in the private sector, promote design export, and, most importantly, educate the general public about national design culture and its impact on quality of life.
We must continue to look for completely new areas where design can help others and where its merits are still to be envisaged. The term "design" can be interpreted in a variety of ways.