Latin-american review of the International Design Scoreboard: Data gathering to inform public design policies

Abstract

There are many difficulties in measuring the impact of design on the development of nations, which in turn undermines the value of design as a tool for national competitiveness. This study aims to contribute to the gathering of data which can guide the development of the national design sector and design promotion programs. For this purpose, isolated data is not sufficient. Instead, accurate, clear and objective data is required to enable analyses and comparisons with other references in order to draw conclusions and direct actions. This research builds on the International Design Scoreboard (2009), which is characterised by the use of indicators that quantify the design capacity of nations, through data that is comparable in both absolute and relative terms. This methodology utilises a number of metrics that allowed the rearchers to develop an overview of the scenario of design in three Latin American countries – Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay – in comparison with other countries around the world.

Keywords: public policies, design, indicators, scoreboard, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay.