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Singapore Launches World’s First Index to Measure Design’s Economic Impact

Singapore Launches World’s First Index to Measure Design’s Economic Impact 2560 1707 Design Business Chamber Singapore
  • The Design Power Index (DPI), inaugurated at the World Design Business Forum 2025, charts how design fuels growth, innovation, and social progress worldwide.
  • With four decades of championing ‘better business by design,’ DBCS now extends its model globally with the World Design Business Organisation (WDBO) set to be launched on 25th November 2025. 
  • DPI anchored by prominent names like UOB, Razer, Banyan Tree, and Carousell who are on the inaugural index, the DPI sets a new global benchmark proving how design shapes economies across business, markets, technology, and society.
  • Till date, the estimated market value of all the companies both private and public who accepted the nomination to be on this inaugural index has reached SGD$20 billion

SINGAPORE – 18 September, 2025 – The multi-disciplinary Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) and global creative change firm Consulus have today unveiled the world’s first longitudinal framework to quantify the economic and social impact of design. The Design Power Index (DPI), launched at the inaugural World Design Business Forum (WDBF), addresses a long-overlooked question: how do we measure design’s contribution to economic growth and social impact in business and society?  

In its first phase, the study benchmarks several prominent organisations in Singapore to reframe design from an aesthetic pursuit to a measurable driver of economic value. Developed under DBCS’s leadership, the DPI builds on the chamber’s decades-long mission to champion “better business by design,” extending its work from recognising excellence through the Singapore Good Design (SG Mark) to proving design’s role in shaping economies. The index is a longitudinal one and will be repeated yearly. 

“We live in an age where economies are being redrawn by AI, shifting trade flows, and climate change, and yet design still sits in the blind spot of most economic models,” said Chee Su Eing, Global Chairperson of the World Design Business Organisation (WDBO), the first global design body championing design as an economic strategy. “The DPI has been created to prove that design is not just decoration, but a driver of growth and long-term advantage, and we’re glad to see it all come alive at the forum here.” 

Themed “Flourishing by Design”, the forum convened participants including economists, business leaders, academics, and policymakers, to debate how design can be mobilised as a strategic tool for competitiveness in a volatile global economy. Sessions explored the intersection of design with trade, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, reflecting urgent issues shaping markets worldwide.

At the heart of the forum was the DPI’s analysis of design’s impact across four dimensions. Kingsmen Creatives, V3 Group and ONG&ONG exemplify the Business of Design, turning expertise into intellectual property that shapes skylines and experiences across the region. Homegrown brands like Hegen, Prism+, and Birds of Paradise demonstrate how distinctive design can create entirely new markets and global brand legacies to capture and change the Market of Design. The finesse in Technology of Design comes alive in companies like Razer and Carousell, where design transforms complexity into seamless platforms, whether for gaming communities or digital marketplaces. And with the Social Impact of Design, healthcare pioneers such as Dementia Singapore and Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) prove how design can strengthen systems for the nation’s future.

“Every product, every service, no matter how small, has the potential to create ripples of social, ecological, and economic impact,” said Hong Khai Seng, President of DBCS. “We want to spotlight the early visionaries already practising this ethos, and invite others to consider what ‘flourishing by design’ could mean for them. This is not just about making better designs, but about designing for better lives, not for a few, but for everyone.”

The unveiling of the DPI comes at a moment when design’s impact is being studied, albeit in a fragmented way, with cross-border collaborations gaining significant momentum. Last year, the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), which is also a DBCS Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) member, partnered with 12 global universities, from Parsons in the US to Tsinghua in China, to launch the world’s first Design Alliance, advancing design and AI in education. Initiatives such as the Shakti Design Residency in India, which pairs international designers with local ateliers, and the London Design Biennale 2025, showcasing installations from more than 20 countries, highlight how design has become a borderless language for innovation and exchange.

Against this backdrop, the DPI sits at the intersection of design and economics, not only capturing the value but also informing future investments, policies, and strategies for resilience and growth. Over the next three years, the study will add on other national indexes to include companies across Asia, Europe, and the United States, establishing a shared basis for evaluating design’s economic impact worldwide.

About Design Business Chamber Singapore

Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) is the nation’s leading multidisciplinary design chamber since 1985. Founded by a diverse group of 13 forward-thinking designers, the organisation was formerly known as Designers Association Singapore. It was renamed Design Business Chamber Singapore in 2012.

As a dynamic community of business leaders, practitioners, and academia from diverse backgrounds, DBCS believes that a pluralistic design approach is key to gaining a competitive edge in today’s global market. As a champion of applying design in business, DBCS seeks to raise the standard of professional practices and create business opportunities through cross-collaborations in local and international contexts.

For more information, visit https://dbcsingapore.org/ 

About Consulus

Founded in Singapore in 2004, Consulus is a global creative change firm working with persons, organisations, and cities in their transfiguration toward an Economy of Communion. With a presence in 23 countries, Consulus believes that purpose and unity are essential to innovation and inclusive growth.

Consulus’ six practice areas: :

Consulus Capital – Consulus Capital facilitates strategic opportunities, guided by the principles of the Economy of Communion, to address global challenges in Food, Environment, Data, and Space.

Consulus Changemakers – Consulus changemakers facilitates a global network of changemaking organisations and individuals from companies, academia and non-profit who share in Consulus theory of change

Consulus Consulting – Practice areas in Business, Digitalisation, Place & Cities, Sustainability, and Impact Transformation

Consulus Press in partnership with LID Business Books of London – Books for changemaking

Creative Change Tools – Personal books and creative aids for changemaking

Creative Changemakers School – Leadership workshops and learning circles with global universities in Asia, Europe and the United States

For more information, visit: www.consulus.com

About the World Design Business Organisation (WDBO)

In a world increasingly shaped by trade wars and the rapid advancement of AI, a new understanding of the economics of design isn’t just relevant – it’s crucial for survival and evolution of the creative industry. DBCS has for 40 years experimented with being interdisciplinary at its core through fostering collaboration between designers, engineers, policymakers, and business leaders, creating a melting pot of diverse perspectives for common action. On 25th of November, during DBCS 40th anniversary gala dinner and in partnership with global impact investment and creative change firm, Consulus, DBCS will replicate this model and launch this global version of DBCS known as World Design Business Organisation which shall focus on the following 4 areas:

  • World Economy of Design – Shape the economic value of design in world trade through measurable indexes, intellectual property benchmarks, financial models on the impact of design and the intersection of design with capital markets
  • Design for Value – Shape the economic practice and social impact of design through aiming for global ranking in design education and preparing future designers for an Age of AI
  • Business of Design Resiliency – Shape the economic valuation of design practices or companies that use design through business advisor, and setting up World Design and AI Institute.

Organising for Unity – Shape a global multi-disciplinary, and multi-stakeholder movement that can mutually bridge Asian and Western creative companies at a time of rising division. The inaugural World Design Business Forum is an example of this.

Media Contacts:

For Design Business Chamber Singapore: 

Yang Shirley
Email: shirley@dbcsingapore.org

For Consulus:

Quynh Anh Ly
Email: quynhanhly@consulus.com


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Why UX and CX Will Make or Break Businesses in 2024

Why UX and CX Will Make or Break Businesses in 2024 2560 1920 Design Business Chamber Singapore

Organisations today understand the fact that user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX) can make or break their services; for consumer facing businesses, the bar gets higher every year. For example, a welcome drink during a hotel check-in used to delight customers, but today it has become a standard onboarding offer in many hotels.

In 2024, it’ll be more critical for organisations to prioritise UX and CX to attract and retain users in the ever increasing digital and on-demand world. As business leaders, how do we build a more customer centric culture with our teams and help our key stakeholders recognise the business impact of what consistent great customer experience in an increasingly digital world?

The Growing Importance of UX and CX in 2024

Customers Expect More Seamless Experiences

Customers will expect personalised, seamless experiences across all touchpoints. If your business can’t deliver a frictionless experience, users will go elsewhere that offers more convenience. We may observe this trend through the rising popularity of digital banks and super apps.

AI & ML Will Enhance Experiences

Technological progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will allow organisations to analyse customer journey mapping, gain insights into pain points, and make real-time improvements. We may observe this trend through an increasing number of self-service kiosks and digital assistants as part of the customer support and onboarding process. If the right data is in place, a degree of personalised experience is made possible.

Emerging Technologies Add New Possibilities

Emerging tech like AR/VR will transform user experience and customer experience with devices like Apple Vision Pro opening up new possibilities. As customers move from search based queries via Google to question based queries via ChatGPT, getting voice interactions right will play an increasingly critical role.

Customer Experience is a Differentiator

In 2024, customer experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator. Organisations which make experience a priority, gather customer insights, personalise user interactions and leverage new technologies will build loyalty and see greater success. The first few organisations that get their emerging technology experience right in their respective categories, will win the hearts of new customers and unlock cost savings via automation in the process. Investing in UX and CX capabilities today will pay off dividends.

How UX and CX Impact Key Business Metrics

Great UX and CX has direct impact on business impact with increasing customer acquisition costs and higher consumer expectations.

Increased Customer Retention

According to various studies, the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60–70%, while the probability of selling to a new customer is only 5–20%. Loyal customers also tend to spend more. Hence, improving UX and CX is key to higher retention and customer lifetime value.

Customer Acquisition via Word-of-Mouth

With a great experience, customers will see your brand in a positive light. This boosts brand perception and recognition, which leads to increased word-of-mouth marketing and referrals. According to the book ‘How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don’t Know’, investing in brand building, lowers overall customer acquisition costs in marketing campaigns. Referrals are also one of the most effective ways to gain new customers since people trust recommendations from friends and family.

Higher Revenue and Profits

When you deliver an engaging UX and CX, you’ll drive higher sales and profits. Happy users buy more and are willing to pay premium prices. They also cost less to serve since they require less customer support. Studies show that improving CX at a company with $1 billion in revenue can increase profits by $775 million over three years (Qualtrics, 2018).

Focusing on user experience and customer experience may require extra effort, but the payoff can be huge. By optimising your UX and CX, you’ll boost key metrics like retention, brand perception, revenue, and profits. In today’s competitive landscape, superior UX and CX can serve as a sustainable competitive advantage.

UX and CX Best Practices for Business Leaders

When speaking to fellow business leaders, they mention their teams recognise the importance of great UX and CX but often find it difficult to start building a more customer centric culture. We encourage all leaders to focus in the following areas.

Encourage collaboration

Successful UX and CX require collaboration across teams. Leaders have to encourage employees from product, design, marketing, and customer service to work together. Their combined insights into user needs and pain points will result in impactful solutions. Leaders should adopt a transparent approach and provide opportunities for cross-functional brainstorming and feedback.

Continuous improvement

UX and CX are ongoing processes, not one-time fixes. Leaders should monitor key metrics like customer satisfaction, retention, and conversions to see what’s working and not working. They should regularly gather user feedback through surveys and interviews to look for avenues to optimise the user journey and overall experience based on the data and input. Incremental improvements over time can have a huge impact.

Observe and listen

The best way to understand your users’ needs is by observing them in action and listening to them. It is important for the team to understand how people interact with your product or service and for them to take note of any negative point. It was one of the biggest take-aways from the business leaders and managers of CBRE Group who attended our customised training workshop, one of who summarised it simply as “Don’t assume. Do research. Brainstorm and discuss the ideas”.  Leaders should relay the importance of customer feedback to their teams in order for them to identify areas of improvements. Look for common themes and insights that can drive meaningful change.

Data-driven decisions

Teams should leverage data to gain useful customer insights that inform important business decisions. Analytics tools can show you how users move through your product or service, where they drop off, what they find most valuable, and more. Quantitative data with qualitative feedback should be paired for a complete picture of the customer experience. Use key metrics to identify the key areas of improvement. As a participant from Maxis who attended our UX Training for Teams workshop said post-course, it is important to “Understand consumers and how we can play with their psychology to drive a particular action”.

With a focus on collaboration, continuous improvement, observation, and data-driven decisions, business leaders can gain a competitive advantage through standout UX and CX. But the work is never done—keep listening, keep collaborating, keep optimising, and keep exceeding user expectations.

Hiring the right talent or train/coach them

To build a user-focused culture in any organisation, hiring the right people is key. If there is willingness internally to change, then investing in training and coaching can reap better results than expensive talent acquisition strategies.

If hiring, look for candidates with a product mindset, strong communication skills, and a passion for innovation. These soft skills, combined with technical expertise, will help your team develop a deep understanding of customers and find creative solutions to their problems.

If training or coaching, look for team members who are data centric and empathetic with a high attention to detail. Change agents have one thing in common, a strong desire to continuously improve.

Conclusion: Putting the customer at the centre

Ultimately, building a customer-centric culture comes down to putting the customer at the centre of every business decision. Use data and insights to gain a deeper understanding of your customers’ behaviours, motivations, and pain points. Then, involving the Voice of Customer to be represented in your business strategies, customer journeys and innovation initiatives. Continuous investment in delighting your customers helps build brands sustainably. It’s really that simple.

To find out more about enhancing your UX and CX capabilities within your team members, kindly reach out to the CuriousCore Team!
https://curiouscore.com/training-for-teams/


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Birds of Paradise admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

Birds of Paradise admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

Blog Design Power Index 2025
DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that Birds of Paradise is admitted into the Design Power Index (DPI) 2025. 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.
ONG&ONG admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

ONG&ONG admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

Blog Design Power Index 2025
DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that ONG&ONG is admitted into the Design Power Index (DPI) 2025. 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.
Carousell admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

Carousell admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

Blog Design Power Index 2025
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1 2 3 32