Abstract
This paper is in the form of a case study, examining the developing relationship between a university and a Business to Business (B2B) small/medium sized enterprise (SME) working in the disability sector.
The paper will highlight a Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) between Teesside University and the disability aids manufacturing and sourcing company, NYMAS, to develop design capability within their business.
The paper will discuss,
•A staged approach to the introduction of a design function including lessons learned
•Map the development of design capability in an SME
•Discuss the pressures inherent in re-orientating a sales driven company to embrace and effectively use design
•Describe a facilitated workshop session by the university, midway through the KEI, that highlighted issues inhibiting change and impacted upon Design
•Comment on the success in changing the company’s orientation
•Highlight the next steps for the company which includes an application for a further Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), to refine the fledgling design capability into a fully research lead, design and development capability.
This abstract includes 167 words.
Key words: Product Design, Knowledge Exchange, SME, Disability Sector, Design-Led Innovation, Developing Design Capability
The paper will highlight a Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) between Teesside University and the disability aids manufacturing and sourcing company, NYMAS, to develop design capability within their business.
The paper will discuss,
•A staged approach to the introduction of a design function including lessons learned
•Map the development of design capability in an SME
•Discuss the pressures inherent in re-orientating a sales driven company to embrace and effectively use design
•Describe a facilitated workshop session by the university, midway through the KEI, that highlighted issues inhibiting change and impacted upon Design
•Comment on the success in changing the company’s orientation
•Highlight the next steps for the company which includes an application for a further Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), to refine the fledgling design capability into a fully research lead, design and development capability.
This abstract includes 167 words.
Key words: Product Design, Knowledge Exchange, SME, Disability Sector, Design-Led Innovation, Developing Design Capability
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The 21st DMI: Academic Design Management Conference Proceedings |
| Subtitle of host publication | Next Wave |
| Place of Publication | https://www.dmi.org/page/ADMC2018Proceedings |
| Pages | 937 - 948 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jul 2018 |
Publication series
| Name | Proceedings of the DMI: Academic Design Management Conference |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Boston MA: Design Management Institute |
| ISSN (Print) | 2640-4702 |