Comments on: I Wish Vancouver DOES Supported the Design Industry

By: Matt Politano

Matt Politano — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:21:16 +0000

Well done, Mark! Way to make change happen!

By: Mark Busse

Mark Busse — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:39 +0000

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Since posting this personal rant (which is in no way the opinion of GDC or Icograda), The City of Vancouver’s economic development arm, appropriately called Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC), has indicated they intend to financially supporting Design Week which is a positive sign indeed and I am encouraged. In no way am I claiming that this post had anything to do with this recent development, but I am happy to eat my words and and update this post to declare Vancouver DOES support the design industry!

By: Karin Jager

Karin Jager — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:52:04 +0000

Vancouver needs to take an advocacy role! The future IS the creative economy. Check out: http://www.otis.edu/about/presidents_messages/creative_economy.html and download LA’s Creative Economy 2009 report.

By: Davin Greenwell

Davin Greenwell — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:25:26 +0000

Hey Mark, great post. It is a special kind of irony that the City of Vancouver does not understand the importance of a conference about design value that could help them understand the importance of design.

I have linked to this post from the GDC National Blog. Kudos on calling it as you see it.

By: Kara

Kara — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:59:53 +0000

I have another bit of fodder to add to this. Roger Martin has some good thoughts around business/design in my opinion: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/video-makethink-2009-martin

His book is making an impact for certain: http://www.amazon.ca/Design-Business-Thinking-Competitive-Advantage/dp/1422177807

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:40:36 +0000

Here’s an additional bit of fodder. What designers do: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/four-things-ive-learned-about-designers

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:38:33 +0000

I sometimes wonder if the hesitancy has to do with how well an individual understands the scope of design (which I feel like other countries and cities seem to have a grasp on – and this get reflected when you see things like a design centre being built).

Design is broad in scope – from industrial to communication to architecture (and then some) – and while we may understand the distinctions, I don’t know that everyone does. We’re often positioned as people who “make things pretty,” which becomes a difficult sell. From my take, designers aren’t artists but if we’re thought of as such, we are placed in a different category when it comes to perceived contributions. Arts contribute in a certain capacity and design has its own unique additions to this cityscape.

I am excited for Design Week as I think it has the potential to stir this pot a bit more. While we may not have the support yet, I’m convinced that we won’t be stalled our convictions. Sometimes it seems you have to bring in external voices to remind those closest to you what it could look like. I personally look forward to collaborating on an envisioned future at a scale that is manageable. After all, that’s what design does best! I know it isn’t easy but the need for clarity in these complex times is prevalent. As designers, we can help make this more obvious and we’ll likely have to spend time being creative on how that delivery happens. There are lots of great cases of how this is emerging elsewhere and I think these front runners could help us navigate our own situation. Great discussion here!

By: Miles Harrison

Miles Harrison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:18:44 +0000

A great impassioned and well informed plea!
I’d love to see the government get behind design in the same way they back sports for Olympics. Even if all that means is to implement an Arts Funding Scratch & Win ticket.
In a much broader, bigger thinking capacity, perhaps the GDC would benefit from a well formulated marketing plan designed to target the government and the business industry. A series of eloquent, strategically placed presentations which invoke the importance and value of design in the economy (This is starting to sound an awful like Design Week 2010) — Each outlining specific opportunities and proposals the government can get behind. Really spell it out for them. Flood them with glossy proposals, some with short fuses, some with a longer shelf lives. I’m sure we can get together and think of dozens of great proposals in a matter of days and opportunities arise weekly. This allows them to generate interest within their spheres of influence. Sooner or later one of these proposals will find the right desk at the right time and it is sitting there as a nice neat package the official can simply pick up the phone and swing it into action.
From their side of the desk they can’t see what we see and it is up us as professional communications specialists to bring our intentions and attention to these string pullers.
I can even see something like the (ala Design Council Ads in the UK – http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/) type of campaign the dairy and cattle industries pummel us with daily in their cheese, egg and milk campaigns, someday.
Design with it’s ROI backed argument is the government’s opportunity to address the shortfall of arts funding — The government’s opportunity to place the missing economic cog between the spinning tech and arts gears and jump-start a fledgling old school economy into the new economic age of knowledge-based and sustainable industry.

By: Matt Politano

Matt Politano — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:13:44 +0000

Well argued, Mark. While I may be across the water on Vancouver Island, a lot of this hits home for me as well. I agree with Robert: no rant, just ugly truth. If our ‘leaders’ spent a fraction of the resources and energy they’re pouring into the Olympics into a more sustainable industry (like ours), the entire Province, and certainly Vancouver, could realize some significant long-term gains.

Short-sighted, visionless, mmmbl mmbl [heads off on rant of his own]…

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:50:30 +0000

Thanks for standing up on this issue as I couldn’t agree more. I think that this has been a long developing problem and a true shame to the city of Vancouver. I thought this city was supposed to stand for diversity, integrity, and lead the country (if not the world) into a better way of being. Instead it’s become a political sink-hole that only cares about how supporting the creative community (or anything for that matter) will benefit them. It’s time for the government get their heads outta their own asses and maintain what dignity this city has left. Until then, I’m movin to Toronto.