Design for Ukraine

In September 2017, Dr Anna Whicher, Head of Design Policy and Design4Innovation Project Manager, was invited as an expert for the first Ukrainian Design Forum: Moving from Design Thinking to Design Doing. The EU Eastern Partnership for Culture and Creativity embarked on a mission to champion the cultural and creative industries in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.  

As a keynote speaker, Anna presented the latest research on design policy and presented the approach adopted in Design4Innovation to developing action plans for design. There was an ambition to take the first step towards creation of a Ukrainian governmental action plan to support design. Therefore, Anna has also replicated the Design Ecosystem Mapping workshop that kicked-off our knowledge exchange process during the first project meeting in Bruges. A group of 30 engaged stakeholders led by Yaroslav Belinsky from Congress of Cultural Activists and Мykola Skyba from Ukrainian Institute for the Future identified the following key actions:

1. NATIONAL PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
   YEAR OF DESIGN IN UKRAINE
   A wide-scale promotional campaign aimed at the democratisation of design among the general public. This can include: Ukrainian Design Week; Annual Design Report; A series of educational lectures for the general public (non-designers); Workshops on the methodology of Design Thinking for representatives of governmental departments, ministries; Publication of handbooks on design (booklets, manuals) in Ukrainian;
2. INNOVATION DESIGN CENTRE
   A Centre should be established which would become an influential institution that could consolidate the efforts of representatives of various disciplines of the design industry (graphic design, motion design, fashion, industrial and product design). This would be an organisation that would inform about best practices, standards for ethical conduct and provide professional expertise. The centre would communicate to the public and business leaders the power of design and the opportunities it offers;
3. STATISTICAL DATA SURVEY
   Creating an annual statistical data survey about the Ukrainian design industry. Directory of designers.
4. ONLINE PLATFORM
   Launch of an online platform with regular newsletter updates, tips and suggestions on events in Ukraine and around the world.
5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SUPPORT
   Establishment of cooperation with lawyers involved in the protection of the rights of representatives of cultural and creative industries.
6. SUPPORT OF UKRAINIAN DESIGNERS ABROAD through the network of embassies.
   In 2017-2019, delegations of industrial designers from Ukraine received positive reactions at Paris Design Week, Dutch Design Week and Salone del Mobile.
7. DESIGNERS AS PART OF GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES
   Inclusion of designers into the process of design-making within governmental structures (for example, the implementation of Design Codes for cities or branding identities for regions).
8. POLICY CHANGE
   Holding a series of workshops using hands-on methods to facilitate shared learning among policy-makers.
9. VIDEO CASE STUDIES
   Creation of educational and documentary films about the successful influence of design in social contexts and government.
10. DESIGN ACTION PLANS
    Development of Design Action Plans and Road Maps for design sectors and industry with the inclusion of representatives of the creative industries and government. 

Yaroslav visited us during our partnership meeting in Cardiff to share the news about his progress in the implementation of actions. His story is exciting and motivating. He managed to set up Design for Ukraine Association that aims “to create an ecosystem for effective interaction of design community, to promote design culture and make life better by design”. Dedicated team at Design for Ukraine managed to organise multiple strategy sessions, high-level promotional events such as Creative Ukraine Forum or Ukrainian Red Dot Award Winners Talk, as well as launched a research on design sector – Design Navigator. Yet another interesting event is planned for 13th June at UNIT.city in Kiev - Design Invest Forum 2019 organised by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with Design for Ukraine Association. It promises to be a place for “connection, interactions and powerful synergy between creative business, state institutions and the Ukrainian design sector”.

We are really satisfied that Design4Innovation inspires creatives across Europe and look forward to further collaborate and share good practices between all European regions.

You can find Ukraine Design Policy Workshop transcript in our Library.