Design capacity
Design capacity is an organisation's capability in gaining and assimilatation of knowledge about designs. Managing design capacity properly is a key, an integral element in success of the business. It is understood also as seen and unseen results of a design development, including knowledge gained by employees during the process. When an enterprise has already worked out some knowledge, it is important to locate resources in optimal way so that the next design capacity is supported and expected outcome as well. To achieve that, a company should create a specific procedure (or an audit) which will take all of resources which the company has and then will guide to alloccate them accordingly[1].
Developing the design capacity
Developing the design capacity enable an organisation to absorb faster technological knowledge and innovations. The most important aspect is a network knowledge: connections between companies, suppliers with their specialisations and related industries. Being a part of industrial cluster supports sharing the knowledge - an example of that might be Design Knowledge Network (DKN). The design capacity in an organisation might be described within the organisational' structure, where some areas of technology, processes, customers and markets will be described as seen design results (or silent design) and other will be called unseen design results (capacities)[2]:
- Unseen design results: production, marketing,
- Seen design results: engineering, industrial design.
Factors influencing the design capacity
Morgan P. advices what should be considered before the design capacity is developed[3]:
- Focusing on the critical functions and effectiveness of permormance to overcome challenges during design process,
- Preparing strategies of capacity development (implicit and explicit), investigate problem' nature, think of means that could be used, timeliness, needed support, level of innovation the design must meet and any organisational outcomes which are welcome to be achieved. These all have definite effect on choosing capacity indicators for the design,
- Techniques which might support the strategy of implementation such as: trainings, services of advises, assessments from institutions, workshops, stratety in resolving conflicts, team building and supply of needed equipment,
- Clarify the context and environmental factors such as: the economy, the policy, the legal, political trends, the informal ‘rules of the game’, conflict in the society and it's complexity level.
Author: Anita Bernacka
Examples of Design capacity
- Product Design Capacity: Product design capacity is the ability of a company to develop and produce a new product. It involves a range of processes such as research and development, prototyping, testing and manufacturing. Companies must have the right resources and knowledge on hand to successfully develop a product.
- Process Design Capacity: Process design capacity is the ability of a company to design and implement efficient and effective processes. This includes the ability to identify and isolate problems and to effectively design, test and implement solutions. Companies must have the right resources and knowledge on hand to successfully design a process.
- Service Design Capacity: Service design capacity is the ability of a company to design and deliver services to customers. This includes the ability to identify customer needs and to effectively design, test and implement services. Companies must have the right resources and knowledge on hand to successfully design and deliver services.
- System Design Capacity: System design capacity is the ability of a company to design and implement effective systems. This includes the ability to integrate systems, develop software and hardware and to effectively design, test and implement systems. Companies must have the right resources and knowledge on hand to successfully design and implement systems.
Advantages of Design capacity
- Design capacity increases the competency and productivity of the organization. It allows the organization to make use of the best expertise, resources, and processes for the development of their products and services.
- Design capacity offers a strong foundation for innovation and creativity. It helps to form the capability to turn ideas into reality, leading to the development of better, more efficient products and services.
- Design capacity reduces the time and cost associated with the development of products and services. By making use of the best resources and processes, organizations can save money and time as well as reduce the risk of errors.
- Design capacity also helps to foster collaboration and communication within the organization. By having an established design capacity, employees can better understand the purpose and objectives of the organization, leading to increased engagement and productivity.
- Design capacity gives the organization a greater ability to respond to changing market conditions. By having a well-defined process in place, organizations can quickly adapt to the changing market conditions, allowing them to remain competitive.
Limitations of Design capacity
Design capacity can be limited by a number of factors, including:
- Availability of resources - Design capacity can be limited by the availability of resources, such as personnel, budget, materials and equipment needed for the development of designs.
- Time constraints - Design capacity can also be limited by time constraints, such as deadlines and schedules.
- Technical limitations - Design capacity can be limited by technical limitations, such as the lack of knowledge or experience of the personnel, lack of technology and tools needed to develop the designs.
- Regulatory requirements - Design capacity can also be limited by regulatory requirements, such as safety, health and environmental regulations.
- Risk management - Design capacity can be limited by risk management, such as the need to ensure the designs are safe, secure and compliant with legal and ethical standards.
- Organisational culture - Design capacity can be limited by organisational culture, such as the attitudes of personnel towards design and the willingness to adapt and adopt new designs.
One way to approach design capacity is to use a variety of different strategies, such as:
- Design Thinking: Design thinking is a creative problem-solving process which can be used to find innovative solutions to difficult problems. It is based on the idea that by looking at problems from different perspectives and using an iterative process of trial and error, new ideas can emerge.
- Knowledge Management: Knowledge management is the process of capturing, organizing, and applying knowledge within an organization. It is an important component of design capacity as it helps to identify and access the knowledge and skills needed to solve problems.
- User Experience: User experience (UX) is the process of understanding how users interact with a product or service. UX design helps to create user-friendly products, services, and experiences. It also helps to identify areas where design capacity can be improved.
- Process Improvement: Process improvement is the practice of making changes to existing processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This can help to ensure that design capacity is used optimally and that resources are allocated in the most efficient way.
In summary, design capacity can be best managed by using a variety of different strategies, such as design thinking, knowledge management, user experience, and process improvement. By utilizing these strategies, companies can ensure that their design capacity is used most effectively and that resources are allocated in the most efficient way.
Footnotes
| Design capacity — recommended articles |
| Knowledge capital — Innovation and change — Importance of knowledge — Innovative systems — Educational innovations — Total Innovation Management — Chief innovation officer — Technical competence — Organizational innovation |
References
- Dorst K. (2011), The core of ‘design thinking’ and its application in Design Studies Volume 32, USA
- Heap D., Jerrard B., Burns K. (2007), Design capacity and capability; mapping design in motion in the UK's furniture manufacturing sector, IASDR07, Hong-kong
- Morgan P. (1997), The design and use of capacity development indicators, Policy Branch of CIDA, Canada
- Wilson S., Zamberlan L. (2015), Design for an Unknown Future: Amplified Roles for Collaboration, New Design Knowledge, and Creativity in Design Issues Volume 31, USA
