UOB Bank admitted into the 2025 Design Power Index

DBCS and Consulus are pleased to announce that UOB Bank 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.

UOB Bank – Redefining the Future of Banking with Design

UOB Bank is a powerful example of generating significant economic value through the sale of highly-refined, design-centric services. The bank has successfully transformed a traditional industry by leveraging design thinking to create products that are intuitive, cohesive, and deeply responsive to user needs.

The economic value UOB generates is a direct result of its deep commitment to design-led innovation. Its business model is centered on providing comprehensive design services that enhance the customer journey both digitally and physically. A prime example is TMRW, its mobile-only bank designed for ASEAN’s digital generation, which uses AI and gamification to engage users and encourage smarter financial habits. This approach has proven its excellence by winning multiple design and innovation awards. Furthermore, UOB’s investment in its new global technology and innovation center in Singapore, with a focus on human-centered design, underscores its commitment to using design as its core intellectual property.

By treating every customer interaction as a design challenge, from the seamless UX/UI of its mobile app to the layout of its wealth centers, UOB has created a compelling brand that is synonymous with innovation, trust, and a superior user experience. This focus has cemented its position as a market leader, proving that strategic design is the most powerful engine for growth and brand loyalty in the financial sector.

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