Should every country have a design minister?

"Design is no longer just about products or services. From Singapore to the U.S., nations are weaving design into policy, and designers must decide if they are ready to step up (image source: Flag Plaza, Doha) Walking into Dear Designer It was a little surreal to see throngs of familiar faces streaming into the convention hall. After picking up a digital yellow invitation, titled 'Dear Designer', I expected to see a small yet intimate session of a few designers in a focus group."

"It was a little surreal to see throngs of familiar faces streaming into the convention hall. After picking up a digital yellow invitation, titled 'Dear Designer', I expected to see a small yet intimate session of a few designers in a focus group. To my amazement, I saw a sea of tables and chairs across the hall, with the chairs surely filling up with architects, educators, designers and creative people of various industries."

"This wasn't your run-of-the-mill event. Dear Designer was an attempt to capture the voices of designers to co-develop the Design Master Plan 2035. Through emerging themes surfaced through past engagements, the event connected fellow practitioners and advocates to help shape strategies that reflect the hopes and needs of the design community of Singapore. A total of approximately 600 designers attended to speak up, making the session a resounding success."

Design role has expanded from products and services to national policy and public strategy. Governments worldwide, including Singapore and the U.S., are embedding design principles in policymaking. Singapore organized a large convening, Dear Designer, to gather practitioner input and co-develop the Design Master Plan 2035. Approximately 600 designers attended to surface emerging themes, connect practitioners and advocates, and shape strategies that reflect community hopes and needs. The event emphasized collaborative, participatory planning rather than top-down directives. Designers are being called to expand their remit and decide whether to assume greater responsibility in shaping public systems and national design agendas.

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