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March 2007
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"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."

-Jules de Gautier

(click image to get in the Mode!)

Businesspeople are from Mars and designers are from Venus
Can you measure design’s value? In a recent BusinessWeek article, The Design Management Institute’s (DMI) Conference sought to explore how to measure design's role in the business world. One answer: educate management

It's a question that continues to stump designers and big business alike: How do you measure innovation? (See BusinessWeek.com, 9/25/06, Metrics Madness). The conclusion, according to attendees at the conference is that you can't, or at least not in any standardized way.

The one thing attendees did agree on is that designers need to do a better job communicating their value to business. Design and innovation are hot management buzz words now, however, if the design industry is to capitalize on its newfound popularity it needs to explain what it does and what it is worth in terms management understands.

It's obviously frustrating for all involved. Designers see themselves more as strategic visionaries or problem solvers, not spreadsheet analysts or bean counters. Yet management finds it hard to value something it can't quantify.

Read the complete article to learn more about designing a strategy.

Tayco in the news again!
A small little company called Apple (I think they make computers and iPods and stuff) has profiled Tayco!

An article on Apple’s website states, “The company is one of North America’s leading office furniture manufacturers, but it is also one of that industry’s best- kept secrets.

For 30 years, Toronto-based Tayco has led the quiet life, remaining “under the radar” for all intents and purposes.

But that simple approach is about to change: the company is planning major new product initiatives and publicity campaigns in 2007.

Joseph Noble 2007 Spring Collection
Building on the continued success of the Joseph Noble Technology Leather series, five new products expand their offering in a clear, positive direction. Strong, handsome, "high-purpose" products that are equally at home in multiple applications.

All products are easy to maintain and wear-test out at well over heavy-duty standards...anywhere from 45,000 to 100,000 double rubs. Pricing continues to remain below $40.00 net per yard.

See the series of steps they have established to determine the environmental impact of their materials and processes.


The Design Management Institute
The Design Management Institute (DMI) is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to heighten awareness of design as an essential part of business strategy. Founded in 1975, DMI has become the leading resource and international authority on design management. DMI has earned a reputation worldwide as a multifaceted resource, providing invaluable know-how, tools and training through its conferences, seminars, membership program, and publications.

All the best,

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Bill Meyer
Contract Specialities, Inc. (CSI)

phone: 954-389-1295

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