Sunday 11 May 2008
The Lemmon-Holton Cancer Center takes shape on Michigan Avenue | © Brian Kelly

West Michigan In The News

January 21, 2008

Design industry key to growing West Michigan's knowledge economy

Design as a viable industry and driving economic force in West Michigan may be becoming a feasible, marketable product, and regional leaders are proposing plans for a Design Thinking Institute, a program to recognize good design publicly, and a plan to create a design-based curriculum for elementary school students.

According to excerpts from the story:

Design West Michigan is fine tuning and will soon launch some key initiatives intended to make design more of a driving force in the West Michigan economy.

DWM spokesman John Berry said the group will meet in late January to develop plans for a “Design Thinking Institute” and “Design Swat Teams” to help West Michigan businesses or organizations in critical situations where design can play a pivotal role.

DWM descended from the design council organized about a year ago by the Zeeland economic development organization Lakeshore Advantage as one of the 12 Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development grant projects.

Read the complete story here.