'Make a Plan' was the first design policy conference to run in South Africa. The two-day event celebrated the resourcefulness and resilience of people who find solutions to problems by making use of what they have within their immediate environment.
Day 1 saw a sharing of 'best practice' of how design has played a role in the development of economies, societies and cultures worldwide in order to develop the policies necessary for unlocking the potential of the design industry to respond to social challenges.
![[WDC2014] Summary of the WDC Design Policy Conference's first day](https://biz-file.com/c/1410/234618.jpg)
Officially opening the Conference, Premier Helen Zille, said: "Design is solving problems with ingenuity and with vision. Some of the best designs solve problems that we didn't even know we had because of people's real vision and creativity. One of the best things about this Conference is its theme, 'Make a plan', which means a lot to South Africans since "'n boer maak 'n plan"' is one of our best known phrases. South Africans can and do make plans to overcome our challenges."
Zille also spoke of some of the 'megatrends' that require design solutions, adding: "I hope that this conference provides you with a platform to create a node in the international web of design innovation to make Cape Town a light of innovation and problem solving."
Gisele Raulik Murphy, Partner at DUCO and Lecturer at Positivo University, said, "There is substantial proof that companies who have good design practices can experience higher growth, increased competitiveness and can innovate with a higher success rate..."
She explained that a design policy is "the process by which governments translate their political vision into programmes and actions in order to develop national design resources and encourage their effective use in the country, in other words, desired changes in the real world."
Industrial Designer, Educator and Researcher, Mugendi K M'Rithaa, stated: "Most commentators have noted the vast potential of this continent. The focus has however been on the abundance of natural resources, superlative performance of a number of economies, as well as the bustling energy associated with a predominantly youthful demographic of Africa. Few however have noted the possibilities presented by the creative industries in unlocking Africa's latent talent. Africa has the potential to leapfrog into the 21st century through using the available technology. If necessity is the mother of inventions, then why isn't Africa a superpower?"
M'Rithaa explored the opportunities and challenges facing the design discipline in Africa, such as not enough design-specific awards being offered across the continent, limited mechanisms for regional exchange and the lack of dedicated promotional institutions and organisations for developing and supporting the discipline.
Hester Du Plessis, Faculty Head at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, said: "There is a good story to tell about South Africa's continual journey of transformation from its colonial past to a full democracy. The journey might be long and slow but is always steadily focused on one goal - to create a better society for all. With the arts playing such an important developmental role in this process, it is advisable that South Africans give attention to formal policy support for art and design ... design drives the world. Neglecting to include design into our policy system is therefore inexcusable."
She continued: "The driver for future development, up to 2030, is the National Development Plan (NDP), drafted by the National Planning Commission (NPC) of the Presidency...The NDP declares that arts and culture open powerful spaces for debate about where a society finds itself and where it is going. Promoted effectively, the creative and cultural industries can contribute substantially to small business development, job creation, and urban development and renewal."
A speaker panel followed, comprising Director of Policy and Strategy at the City of Cape Town, Craig Kesson; CEO of LUMIUM, Srini Srinivasan; Executive Director of the Cape Craft & Design Institute, Erika Elk and President of the Brazilian Product Designers Association, Carlos Scheliga, on the issues of 'Challenges and Opportunities for Design Policy'.
Elk discussed the process that the Cape Craft Design Institute underwent to formulate a design strategy for the Western Cape and concluded her talk by saying that although the theme of the Conference was 'Make a plan', it should have been 'Make a plan and implement it.
Scheliga spoke about the changing role of cities, saying: "Cities like London, Sydney, Seoul and New York to name a few, have guided their urban development by design with transformational and effective results. All these examples are associated with the development of the creative economy and cultural enhancement. With these successful experiences and the expansion of consciousness and participation of citizens, we have the opportunity to make cities great meeting points, where culture, arts, creativity, diversity, equality and citizenship converge,"
In the last talk of the day Pradyumna Vyas, Director of the National Institute of Design (NID) in India, discussed 'The value of an integrated design policy', giving the Indian experience.
