Design Power Index 2025

Banyan Group admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that Banyan Group 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.

Banyan Tree – Designing a Sustainable and Purpose-Driven Experience

Banyan Tree is a powerful example of a company whose business model is built around the Social Impact of Design. Its success and long-term brand equity are a direct result of a purpose-driven design goal: to create luxury hospitality experiences that are intrinsically linked to environmental stewardship and community empowerment. This approach has generated significant economic value by attracting a growing segment of conscious travelers.

Banyan Tree’s design philosophy is a masterclass in designing for sustainability. From its origins, the company has focused on transforming environmentally damaged sites, such as a disused tin mine in Phuket, into stunning, eco-friendly resorts. Every aspect of its resort design—from the use of local materials and low-impact architecture to the conservation of natural habitats—is intentional. This commitment to sustainability is not just corporate social responsibility; it is a core product that drives brand loyalty and a premium price.

Furthermore, Banyan Tree’s model actively solves social challenges by establishing community-based initiatives and employing local artisans, whose crafts are integrated into the design of the resorts and sold in their boutiques. This creates a new service ecosystem where design serves as a powerful tool for economic and social upliftment. The company’s brand leadership is a testament to how a design-led commitment to positive impact can be a powerful driver of both profit and purpose.

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