New Design Business Opportunities Enabled by Multidisciplinary Design Education

Abstract

Design education is changing to multidisciplinary education introducing different disciplines, especially integrating design, engineering and business. Behind this trend is rapid change of technology and society, which requires new types of designers who are skillful and knowledgeable in various fields. Korean manufacturing industry is structured in relationship of a major manufacturer and several subcontractors, which makes dominant-subordinate relationship between them. Design business in Korea mostly runs in order-supply relationship between client companies and design consulting firms. These three situations can bring new design business opportunities; I) Design-led Manufacturing Company Association in which designers collaborate with part manufacturers to open a new business, called 'Factoryless Manufacturing,' based on innovative and feasible products and 2) Intellectual Property-based Design Business in which designers sell intellectual property and make money based on royalty.