Design Wings

The main project objective was to increase Lithuanian businesses' competitive advantage, social responsibility, and added value through design solutions based on the principles of innovation, the digital and circular economy, using the cultural and creative sectors affected by the pandemic.
The project Design Wings involved companies from all over Lithuania, for which design solutions based on the principles of innovation and the digital and circular economy are developed by emerging design professionals and supervised by experienced mentors — highly skilled design experts. Participating companies develop design solutions for a product, for communication design (images, messages), or processes, services and interfaces.
This project connected various people – business people, designers, and mentors – with different skills and experiences from all parts of the country. One of the benefits is that Lithuanians who graduated abroad were welcomed to go back home and work for a local business. All the project participants, whom we define as the community, have the possibility to communicate with one another online and during live meetings where they share their experiences and ideas. The work regarding design solutions is carried out on an inclusion basis: designers can receive assistance or advice from professionals from different design branches (graphic, product, service, fashion, or UX) in case it is necessary. Design solutions correspond to the principles of circular economy and digitalization, i.e., they are environment-friendly and do not cause consequences for future generations and nature. The fundamental Design Thinking principles are constantly in use.

Problem addressed

The apprentice designers who completed their studies in 2018-2022 were invited to participate in the project because, as the employees of the creative segment, they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lost their income and the possibility to improve their professional skills. During the project, they receive scholarships, improve their professional skills, and develop professional ethics while collaborating with the enterprise. The other group benefiting from the project are representatives of small and medium-size businesses who do not have the possibility to employ designers paying them the market price. Professional design solutions created during the project help to increase the enterprise's competitiveness and expand the business by offering new or improved products and services.

Key results and benefits

● Novice designers affected by the pandemic financially and professionally improve their skills, acquire new knowledge, and establish new contacts.

● Small and medium-size enterprises acquire theoretical knowledge and receive tangible design solutions created according to their needs. Mainly designed solutions increase enterprise competitiveness, enabling them to implement circular and digital economy principles in their business.

● During the project, 34 design solutions meeting sustainability and circular economy principles were created that are simultaneously commercialized, adapted for production, and realized.

● The project's indirect beneficiaries are potential customers of these enterprises who will be able to benefit from sustainable, aesthetic, and convenient design solutions. These products will enable customers to spare funds because their design is adapted for secondary use, using the product without residual, repairing, etc.

● The project demonstrates design's value and might encourage other companies to invest more in design and R&D.

Potential for mainstreaming

To its full extent, the project can be transferred to other regions and countries, involving local enterprises and trying to use local resources. The other element of the project is the potential of novice designers, which can be scaled in public or governmental institutions when creating contemporary, efficient design solutions that would increase the availability and quality of the rendered services.

The project model could be scaled and applied to other sectors, such as literature, music, cinema, etc., where young graduates can receive mentorship and companies that need products and services from creative industries without big financial investments and risks.