The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC), in its 22nd year, continued to seek to bring an integrated design perspective to industry and public sector initiatives to improve economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The Committee works to enable other industries to utilize the problem-solving skills of our local design workforce to improve business results. In these challenging and volatile times, the work of designers has become even more critical to our economic future and quality of life. As an interdisciplinary design think tank and research group, DIAC’s members include professional associations representing architects, landscape architects, industrial, interior, graphic and fashion designers, and urban planners. DIAC was pleased to welcome several new representatives of the association members to its Board in 2023.
Design Sector Study
As subject matter experts, DIAC continued to advise and support the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group (TWIG) to present and promote the Think Design report as part of the 2023 DesignTO Festival. Among the report’s key findings:
In 2021, 76,144 people worked in Toronto’s Design Sector, in a design occupation (66,073), at a design firm (11,466), or both (1,395);
Five in six designers work in other industries;
By total employment, among Toronto’s industries, the Design sector ranks as roughly one quarter the size of the largest industries (Retail and Manufacturing), but larger than Information and cultural industries, Public administration, Educational services, etc.;
Toronto is a hub for design. In 2021 Toronto had 21.6% of Canada’s design workers; and
The Design sector is a critical component of Toronto’s economy, both in its own right and in the synergistic way that Design enables, promotes and supports other sectors across the city including Finance, Tech/Information, Construction and Manufacturing.
DIAC Committee Projects
Each of DIAC’s cross-disciplinary subcommittees does ongoing work to advance DIAC’s vision and mission. Over the past year, the committee’s projects included:
Communications – Shared DIAC initiatives on the website and social media;
Governance – Updated DIAC’s Strategic Plan and began updating By-Laws;
Membership & Funding – Investigated new membership categories (e.g. Honorary) and other funding opportunities; and
Research – Focused on new research, related funding, and program opportunities.
Design Impacts Framework – Case Studies
DIAC continued its research into case studies that demonstrate how DIAC’s Design Impacts Framework can be used to promote the beneficial impacts of the five measurable dimensions of good design. DIAC provided designers in all our member organizations a platform to present their projects that demonstrate benefits, especially those projects that feature multidisciplinary design teams. The case studies were promoted on DIAC’s website and social media.
New DIAC Strategic Director
In October, DIAC announced Kevin Stolarick, PhD, had been chosen as DIAC’s new Strategic Director. Kevin brings a wealth of experience in research, management, and organization to the position. He has worked with DIAC on a number of important projects, most recently the Think Design report. Kevin is a tremendous advocate for developing an understanding and appreciation of design both overall, and in its many forms as practices.
DIAC Member Association Outreach
Kevin began meeting with senior representatives of each of DIAC’s member associations, together with that association’s member representatives, to discuss issues of importance to each of the design disciplines, ideas for future projects, and other opportunities for collaboration. In September, DIAC participated in TSA CONNECT: Volunteering, and in October IDC’s Annual Design Symposium.
The Power of Design: How Innovation and Strategic Design Translate to Market Success
In DIAC’s October design panel presentation to the City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, a multi-disciplinary team of designers spoke to the audience of 150 entrepreneurs. They explained that design is more than simply aesthetics; it is how users interact with products and services to develop an experience that helps them connect and build a relationship with the company. The presenters discussed how great design builds great businesses and what it takes to do so. The panelists also participated in a speed mentoring session with attendees looking to follow-up.
New DIAC project opportunities
Project co-sponsorship was requested from the city to update fashion sector employment figures, including fashion design, in partnership with the city’s Fashion Industry Advisory Panel (FIAP). This project is underway and expected to finish by Q2 2024. Following meetings with DIAC’s member associations, Kevin began investigating whether DIAC might undertake the following projects in 2024:
Common Design Event Calendar for Toronto (Ontario) Design Events;
Design Foresight Summit – with leadership from the member design organizations, DIAC Board representatives and a few selected others to talk about the future of Design; and
Applying for funding to create an Ontario-wide Small Business/Enterprise Design Mentorship program.
Ongoing Initiatives
In addition to the above projects, in 2023 DIAC also worked to:
Promote Toronto as a centre for strategic design;
Market DIAC’s activities, to expand its membership and to attract strategic partners for future research; and,
Liaise with stakeholders in the design community to ensure that designers continue to collaborate across their disciplines and to play an active role in helping the local SME community to drive innovation and to expand sustainable business practices.
As a small not-for-profit organization, DIAC is grateful for the contributions received from its member organizations, and the co-sponsorship support provided by the City of Toronto, which enables the Committee to undertake its research and program activities for the year. Without this support DIAC’s valuable work would not be possible.
The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) is an interdisciplinary design research group established by the City of Toronto in 2001. The activities of DIAC promote the strategic value of design and the contribution of designers from all disciplines to achieving economic, social, and environmental prosperity.
If you have any questions or would like more detail, please reach out to us at info@diac.on.ca
