Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) 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.

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) – Designing a Better World

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is an exemplary institution where its core purpose is centered on a design-led education that is intentionally used to address pressing social and environmental challenges, thereby creating a new generation of purpose-driven innovators.

SUTD, which pivoted to AI in January this year, is the world’s first Design AI university. Its curriculum, which integrates design and AI across all disciplines, trains students to create human-centered solutions for real-world problems, whilst leveraging on the power of AI. This approach has led to student-led projects that address issues such as sustainable urban living, accessible healthcare technology, and improving the lives of marginalized communities. For example, students have designed assistive devices for people with disabilities and created energy-efficient prototypes for smart cities. The economic value here is not measured in direct revenue but in the long-term impact on society, fostering a culture of innovation that drives public good and strengthens Singapore’s reputation as a leader in design and technology.

SUTD has proven that an educational institution can be a powerful engine for social change. By designing a curriculum that is purpose-driven and focused on creating solutions for the greater good, it has built immense brand equity and established itself as a leader in a new field of education.

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