The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC), in its 21st year, continued to seek to bring an integrated design perspective to industry and public sector initiatives to improve economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The Committee works to enable other industries to utilize the problem-solving skills of our local design workforce to improve business results. In these challenging and volatile times, the work of designers has become even more critical to our economic future and quality of life. As an interdisciplinary design think tank and research group, DIAC’s members include professional associations representing architects, landscape architects, industrial, interior, graphic and fashion designers, and urban planners. DIAC was pleased to welcome several new representatives of the association members to its Board in 2022.
Design Sector Study
Furthering our work as subject matter experts, in 2022 DIAC continued to advise the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group (TWIG) on the implications of the design sector study research findings, and on the design and presentation of the executive summary and the full report.
TWIG published its study of Toronto’s design workforce to update historical data regarding categories of design work, numbers of designers in the workforce and where designers work. Researched and written by Kevin Stolarick, the Think Design report includes an in-depth qualitative and quantitative overview of design occupations and industry sectors. It also provides labour market insights on how Toronto’s design sector can continue to thrive over the coming decade.
DIAC also advised and assisted on the planning of the report launch and panel discussion, as part of the 2023 DesignTO Festival.
Design Impacts Framework – Case Studies
In 2021 DIAC expanded on its Design Impacts Framework publishing a report which focused on 3 successful Placemaking projects. These case studies identified the indicators and metrics involved in valuing the design impacts for the design sector, their clients, and other stakeholders in the community. This work is important because these case studies demonstrate the positive results that strategic use of design can bring to businesses and design teams on other projects.
In 2022 DIAC researched case studies in each of the design disciplines that demonstrate how DIAC’s Design Impacts Framework can be used to promote the beneficial impacts of the five measurable dimensions of good design. DIAC will be publishing these case studies on our website, showing the positive results of design interventions in architecture, landscape architecture, graphic, industrial, interior, fashion, and urban design.
CaféTO Winterization Design Charrette Report
In the first quarter of 2022, DIAC published the CaféTO Winterization Design Charrette Report, based on the charette held in the fall of 2021. The report summarized the top recommendations, potential solutions, insights, tips, and resources emerging for innovations to enhance safe outdoor dining and entertainment activities into the colder months. The objective was to generate both immediate ideas for the restaurant industry that could be quickly and easily implemented, and longer-term ideas for all stakeholders to consider.
Ongoing Initiatives
As a small not-for-profit organization, DIAC is grateful for the contributions received from its member organizations, and the co-sponsorship support provided by the City of Toronto, which enables the Committee to undertake its research and program activities for the year. Without this support DIAC’s valuable work would not be possible. In addition to the above projects, in 2022 DIAC also worked to:
Promote Toronto as a centre for strategic design;
Market DIAC’s activities, to expand its membership and to attract strategic partners for future research; and,
Liaise with stakeholders in the design community to ensure that designers continue to collaborate across their disciplines and to play an active role in helping the local SME community to drive innovation and to expand sustainable business practices.
The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) is an interdisciplinary design research group established by the City of Toronto in 2001. The activities of DIAC promote the strategic value of design and the contribution of designers from all disciplines to achieving economic, social, and environmental prosperity.
