Design Malta programme launched – The Use of Design Towards a
Competitive Advantage
“After the publication
of the working plan for the year 2007 – 2008 yesterday, we have
immediately started on the implementation of these initiatives. In
fact, today we are launching a scheme that is intended to help more
small businesses be innovative and allow them to gain a competitive
advantage.” Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self
Employed, Edwin Vassallo, said this at a business breakfast during which
Design Malta was launched. Design Malta is being implemented in
collaboration with the University of Malta and MCAST. Present for this
activity were representatives from the University and MCAST, from
different commercial sectors, from the Commerce Division, from Malta
Enterprise, various business associations and a number of students.
Parliamentary
Secretary Edwin Vassallo said that “the Government is continuously
working to ensure that the commercial sector improves itself, in order
to create more job opportunities and economic growth. The Design Malta
scheme consists of a number of initiatives that aim to help small
business be more innovative. A good use of design during the conception
of a product helps to improve the product. Design gives a winning edge
to the product and helps a consumer choose a product over another.
“One of the Design
Malta incentives has already been initiated, and four students have been
chosen to work with sixteen companies (two weeks with each company) in
order to allow the students to share knowledge with local businesses and
also for them to gain experience.
“Thanks to the Design
Malta scheme, we will be helping our small businesses, if they are
taught the concept of design, to gain a competitive edge. In this
year’s working plan there are a number of initiatives about this. The
very first initiative, in fact, speaks about the importance of the
development of value added and states that:
1. The development of value added in each person’s work will be
the priority of the work of the Secretariat for Small Business and the
Self Employed. This will ensure a continuous commitment on a personal
and collective level for each entity towards improving the quality of
the product or service being offered.
Three further
initiatives focus on Design Malta. These are:
88. The Secretariat will be co-ordinating its work with Design
Malta, which will be set up to promote the use of design in the
manufacturing and services sectors.
90. We will be working on the development of the concept of design
amongst small business owners in industrial zones and with persons
registered with the Malta Crafts Council.
92. A centralised office will be set up to function as a point of
reference in communicating towards a better use of design. This should
ensure a competitive advantage for small businesses in the services and
manufacture sectors.”
Hon. Vassallo went on
to say that “what we are launching today is just the start. We will be
developing this concept further. It is no longer enough for us to be
just good enough, we need to excel. The use of design is pleasing to
the eye. In a globally competitive market we need to be innovative, and
thus truly ‘winning in competition’.
Dr. Eng. Jonathan C.
Borg, Chairman of Design Malta, and Mr. Patrick Galea, project
co-ordinator gave a presentation and a case study. They explained that
design has a key role in many sectors of industry, frequently resulting
in the creation of innovative products, ease of fabrication,
cost-effectiveness, user-friendliness, safety and simplicity of
operation, besides being an effective environmental means of preventing
the generation of waste. The government, through Design Malta, is
taking direct, active action in the promotion and implementation of
design policies which will enable Small and Micro Enterprises besides
others to gain a considerable competitive advantage as well as ensure
they remain avant-garde in both the local and possibly European
markets. Design Malta is a concrete step towards increasing the
quality and competitiveness of local products which will in turn
guarantee their long-term success and future expansion on our shores and
beyond. World-wide studies have proven time and again that appropriate
and innovative design is directly responsible for significant increase
in economic and social returns.
Design Malta is
responsible for the provision and propagation of information regarding
design. Producers will have access to authoritative design research,
knowledge and practical advice whilst students of design attending both
the University of Malta and MCAST, as well as designers, will be backed
up by this Action Committee. At the top of Design Malta's agenda is
that a design-oriented culture be encouraged among all enterprises
across a variety of fields. Further information is available at
www.designmalta.com.mt.
“We will be focusing
on design because in order to satisfy their customers, small businesses
must develop and pay more attention to their products and services, in
order to provide a quality and innovative product. The future is in our
hands, and everything is possible” concluded Parliamentary Secretary
Edwin Vassallo.
