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Lessons from China: Paradise or Graveyard for Strategic Designers
- Source: Journal of Design, Business & Society, Volume 2, Issue 1, Mar 2016, p. 9 - 22
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- 01 Mar 2016
Abstract
This study examines the extent to which design is adopted by organizations in China to support their strategic development. China is in transition from being a country known for cheap manufacturing to a country that offers value-added products and services. Given the role of strategic design in supporting organizational change and innovation in other countries, it could be expected that design strategists soon will be in high demand in China. From educational, cultural and historical perspectives, however, it can be explained that for many years in China imitation strategies have been more popular than innovation strategies. This study shows that there is evidence to suggest that utilization of design in China will become more strategic in the near future. This is supported by recent government policies and by the current success of companies innovating in the ICT sector. However, a lot of effort from experienced strategic designers will still be needed for the transformation of the existing traditional manufacturing sector.