Bengawan Solo admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that Bengawan Solo is admitted into the Design Power Index (DPI) 2025.

The Design Power Index is an economic premise and framework based on three key questions:
1. Does design generate economic value?
2. If yes, what is the value?
3. Is the nominated organisation great at harnessing the power of design to generate economic value and shape societal impact?

This inaugural index is launched by the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) in partnership with its global knowledge partner Consulus, a global impact investment and creative change firm, as part of DBCS’s 40th anniversary.

Companies and organisations are first shortlisted from a wide range of industries and then nominated. By accepting the nomination, honorees affirm that design shapes economic value through their business model, products, and services. Acceptance also means they agree to participate in an assessment the following year for the Design Power Index 2026, ensuring a deepening study on the value of design for economic growth. Acceptance of nomination, use of the logo, and participation in next year’s survey are without fee.

As of now, the estimated total market value of the private and listed companies who have accepted the nomination has reached SGD 20 billion. For the non-profit organisations included, their work impacts the lives of Singaporeans.

Bengawan Solo – The Architects of Culinary Nostalgia

Bengawan Solo is more than a confectionery chain; it is a cultural Singaporean institution that has masterfully leveraged design to reimagine a product category and create a unique service ecosystem. In a market where traditional Southeast Asian kueh and cakes could be seen as simple, unbranded goods, Bengawan Solo has elevated them to premium, design-first products and became a Singapore icon.

The company’s success lies in its ability to take beloved, traditional recipes and present them with a highly recognizable brand identity. From the signature batik-inspired packaging that evokes a sense of heritage and luxury, to the meticulous presentation of each product, every element is designed to signal quality, authenticity, and a uniquely Singaporean experience. This design-led approach has not only created a premium segment for local delicacies but has also defined a new consumption pattern, turning Bengawan Solo’s offerings into quintessential souvenirs for tourists and celebratory gifts for locals.

By establishing a robust central kitchen and a network of inviting retail outlets, Bengawan Solo has built a service ecosystem that guarantees consistency and quality, while making its design-centric products accessible. Bengawan Solo is a testament to the power of design to transform a business, proving that even the most traditional of products can achieve regional appeal and economic success through a visionary design strategy.

About the Design Power Index (DPI)

The Design Power Index (DPI) is the world’s first longitudinal economics index designed to measure and track the economic value generated by companies through the strategic use of design and the creation of design intellectual property (IP). Showcasing 40 companies and 20 organisations recognised for their business growth, market creation, technological innovation, and social impact through design, the inaugural DPI 2025 provides a holistic lens of design’s contribution to the economy.

Developed by the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) in partnership with Consulus, the DPI analyses design’s impact across four dimensions:

• Business of Design — Companies who have achieved revenue and growth through creating unique intellectual property by design
• Market of Design — Companies who have harnessed design to create a new business category
• Technology of Design — Companies who have used design to innovate and shape use-behaviour
• Social Impact of Design — Companies/organisations who use design to shape societal change or impact