An analysis of Taiwan's design services industry

July 23, 2004

Through its many years of development, Taiwan's OEM industry has become a significant player in the global manufacturing sector, especially in the manufacture of high tech products. Future industrial development, however, hinges on successfully shifting to higher added-value products and services. To this end, the design services industry is an important part of this transformation. And although Taiwan has several programs to promote product design excellence, greater importance is now being placed on the cultivation of professional talent and industrial policy. Thus, the design services sector is one of 12 service industry areas targeted for further development in the CEPD-drafted "Service Industry Development Guidelines and Action Plan."

The prime areas within the design services industry discussed in the above plan include industrial product design, computer-assisted design, packaging design, contemporary fashion design, industrial arts product design, Corporate Identity System (CIS) design, brand visual design, graphic visual design, advertising design, web and multimedia design, product planning, etc. According to the 2002 Taipei Technology Institute "Industrial Design Industry Sampling Survey," the design services industry's total annual production value was NTD1.4 billion; there were 6,583 design services firms and studios (including work studios of individuals), which employed approximately 11,290 people. At the time of this survey, there were thirty-nine college and university design-related departments or programs, which collectively turned out an average of 5,893 graduates with master's or doctorate degrees every year.

The design services sector development strategy focuses on nine areas: using existing resources to promote the design of globally recognized Taiwanese brands; balancing the need for creativity as well as accountability in product design; fully utilizing design services to meet local demand to gain experience and become more competitive; assisting the design services sector to incorporate international business practices and stay abreast of worldwide trends; strengthening public awareness of the value of design as well as respecting intellectual property rights; making wide use of government resources to develop design capabilities; enhancing  professional education and training programs for designers; strengthening the skills of administrative and project management personnel in the design services sector; and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Taiwan's design services sector.

The competent authority for the design services sector shall be presenting its flagship plan to be incorporated into the "Design Services Industry Development Guidelines and Action Plan" at the Service Industry Subsector Preparatory Meeting with the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the afternoon of July 20, 2004. This important meeting shall be convened by Economic Affairs Minister Ho Mei-yueh, Minister Without Portfolio Lin Yi-fu, United Advertising Honorary Chairman Lai Tung-ming,  NOVA Design President Chen Wen-lung and Taiwan Design Center Chairman Hsu Chih-jen.


Source: CEPD

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