Actiu defends in Congress the design role as strategic, differentiating and worthwhile factor for Spanish companies

This historic and informative initiative has been organized by the Socialist Parliamentary Group in collaboration with RED, READ and other private and educational entities to support the presentation of a Proposition of No Law that promotes the development of a National Design Strategy, which is will debate in the Committee on Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.

The program has been structured around two round tables, one focused on design challenges and the second on strategies. In both has participated a wide representation of professionals, companies, associations linked to Spanish design. A highlight among those invited to this event, the important sample of Valencian designers, companies and institutions that are working on design as strategic value and that have intervened in the parliamentary debate: the designers Pepe Cosin, Vicent Martinez, Vicente Gallega, Nacho Lavernia, Soledat Berbegal, of the Actiu firm or the own promoter of the Proposal of No Law, Ana Botella, Valencian deputy of the socialist group.

The speakers of the first debate have put on the table the challenges facing Spanish design. Actiu, has exposed, through its director of strategic communication, Soledad Berbegal, how “design is a transformative experience; experience because it is something people experiences and transformative because society changes.”

The day has been inaugurated by Rafael Simancas, General Secretary of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Congress of Deputies, who has pointed out the need to put “the design in the political agenda of the country from this house, the Congress of Deputies“.

The Proposition of No Law linked to this conference highlights the capacity of Design to create value and contribute to competitiveness, prosperity and welfare in Europe. The Design for Innovation, occupies a prominent place in the current decrease, internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SME strategy of the European Commission. There is a broad European consensus that design-driven innovation increases efficiency in public services and enhances business growth, both for large companies and for the large network of small and medium-sized European companies, which find design a key tool of competitiveness and internationalization.

Soledad Hernández, designer and president of DiMad, spoke about the lack of institutional support for the design “to constitute a real strength in our business fabric. Spanish design is a successful reality but not institutionalized. We do not know its specific weight, we have no idea of its value within the national economic competitiveness. There was a time when there were institutions that were in charge of these tasks, but the crisis and the cuts eliminated all of them “.

For the first time in the history of the Congress of Deputies a debate is facilitated in which an entire sector such as Design has been represented by professionals, companies, associations and educational entities and where the need to contemplate the design as a transversal value for all sectors and implement it with a state policy. This has been the first step to work together, to value the talent and creativity of the country by applying the design. Put it at the service of societies to achieve greater welfare, better companies and smarter environments.