a ministry of design!

Fashion and design Possible synergies

Case Study: The Ministry of Design

Lesley-Ann Noel

The Ministry of Design

Designing a better Trinidad & Tobago

Concept: Michael Lee Poy and Lesley-Ann Noelatelierleepoy@gmail.com, lesleyannnoel@gmail.com

If the government of Trinidad and Tobago were to create a Ministry of Design, what would that ministry do? How can design support governance and how can government support design?

Aims: • Generate public

discourse about design – and the role that it could play in governance

• Expand public knowledge about design practice (… not just ‘pixie dust’)

• Increase literature on Design in the Caribbean / Developing countries

• Create a culture of writing (and reading about design)

Engaged students in producing event memorabilia.

Distributed memorabilia to politicians (including the Leader of the Opposition) and public figures and told them about the need for a Ministry of Design and the colloquium

Attended political rallies to create awareness of the ‘Ministry of Design’

…. And the Minister of Sport

Celebrity Endorsements: Nisha B, Trinidad & Tobago celebrity who has a keen interest in design

Used cutting edge technology as well for some memorabilia.

Promoted everything via social media – which resulted in television interview (and more celebrity endorsements)

#ministryofdesign#uwidcfaInstagram, twitter, FB

…. And more media

Were able to use the Design Ecosystem Diagnostic Tool (developed by Ann Whicher of Head of Design Policy at Cardiff Metropolitan University) to assess current and desired state of:

• Design actors, • Design users, • Design promotion• Research and

Knowledge exchange• Design education • Professional Design

Sector • Policy, governance and

regulation • Design Funding

Good post event coverage

Colloquium Results

Themes discussed:• Design and Policy• Design and Government

Systems • Design and MSME Development • Design Philosophy

underpinning Design Practice• Design Standards • Design Education • Urban Planning and the

Environment• Design and Public Projects

…not just ‘pixie dust’….

Highlights: * Almost 40 proposals for papers received from US, UK, Jamaica, PR, DR, Barbados, Australia and T&T* 20 papers presented over 2 days* Academics and non-academic contributors* Good range in age, gender and ethnicity of participants* New writing and design talent discovered

Some synergies

• Fashion and other areas of Design at a nascent phase regionally – though fashion may be better understood by the general public

• Activism, Evangelism needed – to generate interest, demand, support etc.

• Embrace new technology and new media (incl. social media) in our solutions and responses.

• Policy can support the development of local industries

• Public discourse can contribute to the development of policy

Continue to look for us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as we continue to campaign for design in Trinidad and Tobago

#ministryofdesign#uwidcfa

Thank You!Lesley-Ann Noel lesleyannnoel@gmail.com Michael Lee Poy atelierleepoy@gmail.com