a ministry of design!
TRANSCRIPT
Fashion and design Possible synergies
Case Study: The Ministry of Design
Lesley-Ann Noel
The Ministry of Design
Designing a better Trinidad & Tobago
Concept: Michael Lee Poy and Lesley-Ann [email protected], [email protected]
If the government of Trinidad and Tobago were to create a Ministry of Design, what would that ministry do? How can design support governance and how can government support design?
Aims: • Generate public
discourse about design – and the role that it could play in governance
• Expand public knowledge about design practice (… not just ‘pixie dust’)
• Increase literature on Design in the Caribbean / Developing countries
• Create a culture of writing (and reading about design)
Engaged students in producing event memorabilia.
Distributed memorabilia to politicians (including the Leader of the Opposition) and public figures and told them about the need for a Ministry of Design and the colloquium
Attended political rallies to create awareness of the ‘Ministry of Design’
…. And the Minister of Sport
Celebrity Endorsements: Nisha B, Trinidad & Tobago celebrity who has a keen interest in design
Used cutting edge technology as well for some memorabilia.
Promoted everything via social media – which resulted in television interview (and more celebrity endorsements)
#ministryofdesign#uwidcfaInstagram, twitter, FB
…. And more media
Were able to use the Design Ecosystem Diagnostic Tool (developed by Ann Whicher of Head of Design Policy at Cardiff Metropolitan University) to assess current and desired state of:
• Design actors, • Design users, • Design promotion• Research and
Knowledge exchange• Design education • Professional Design
Sector • Policy, governance and
regulation • Design Funding
Good post event coverage
Colloquium Results
Themes discussed:• Design and Policy• Design and Government
Systems • Design and MSME Development • Design Philosophy
underpinning Design Practice• Design Standards • Design Education • Urban Planning and the
Environment• Design and Public Projects
…not just ‘pixie dust’….
Highlights: * Almost 40 proposals for papers received from US, UK, Jamaica, PR, DR, Barbados, Australia and T&T* 20 papers presented over 2 days* Academics and non-academic contributors* Good range in age, gender and ethnicity of participants* New writing and design talent discovered
Some synergies
• Fashion and other areas of Design at a nascent phase regionally – though fashion may be better understood by the general public
• Activism, Evangelism needed – to generate interest, demand, support etc.
• Embrace new technology and new media (incl. social media) in our solutions and responses.
• Policy can support the development of local industries
• Public discourse can contribute to the development of policy
Continue to look for us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as we continue to campaign for design in Trinidad and Tobago
#ministryofdesign#uwidcfa
Thank You!Lesley-Ann Noel [email protected] Michael Lee Poy [email protected]