Boosting Bangladesh's industry: Why a product design degree is key
Setting up a Bachelor's degree program in Product Design would be a smart way to boost industrial growth since the country aims to become a global player in many industries.
With its rapidly expanding economy and evolving industrial landscape, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads where idea generation and skill development are crucial for sustainable growth. Over the past few decades, the country's economic foundation has shifted significantly— from being agriculture-based to industrialised, with a strong emphasis on exports.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the RMG sector accounts for over 80% of the country's exports. While industries like RMG have significantly contributed to economic growth, there remains a substantial gap in industrial design skills.
One key challenge is the absence of a dedicated academic framework for product design in Bangladesh. This gap hinders innovation and poses a challenge to the long-term competitiveness of the country's industries.
Setting up a Bachelor's degree program in Product Design would be a smart way to boost industrial growth since the country aims to become a global player in many industries. Bangladesh can build a foundation for more innovative businesses that can make original products and add value beyond just manufacturing by teaching a new generation of skilled designers.
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Even though there is demand, there aren't any public universities in Bangladesh that offer a complete program that teaches students how to become skilled product designers.
Product design is the process of coming up with ideas for new products and developing them. It's important for businesses that want to come up with new products, meet customer needs and stand out in competitive markets.
Product design plays a crucial role in various sectors, including consumer devices, furniture, medical equipment, and household goods, particularly in countries like China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. It equips companies with the tools to innovate and enhance their products.
In contrast, Bangladesh has primarily focused on low-cost production, investing little in design and innovation. This lack of emphasis on product design limits the country's ability to diversify exports or produce high-value goods that can compete effectively in global markets.
Our industry sector makes up about 35% of the country's GDP, according to the Bangladesh Economic Review (2022). But a lot of this contribution comes from businesses that need a lot of workers to make cheap goods and don't add much value through design or innovation.
For instance, Bangladesh's thriving RMG sector largely relies on producing garments designed elsewhere, confining the country's role to manufacturing rather than creation. With the industry dependent on foreign design and innovation, it remains vulnerable to shifts in global demand and competitive pressure from other countries capable of producing similar goods.
Introducing a Bachelor's degree program in Product Design could enable industries such as textiles, electronics, automotive, and home appliances to transition from producing low-cost items to creating branded, design-driven products. This shift would not only enhance profit margins but also increase global appeal, particularly as the economy rapidly evolves toward knowledge-based businesses that prioritise design and innovation.
Bangladesh aims to become a middle-income country and then a developed economy, so it needs to move quickly from low-value, labour-intensive businesses to higher-value ones. Creating a degree program in product design would help reach this goal by giving people the artistic and technical skills they need to drive innovation.
Bangladesh doesn't have enough product designers and the growing need for customised and customer-focused goods makes the problem even worse. People around the world are increasingly looking for items that not only do what they are supposed to but are better in terms of aesthetics and user experience.
Product Design as a degree program would push students to think outside the box, come up with unique ideas, and focus on user-centred design. This would help businesses adapt to these new trends.
Case studies from around the world show how spending on product design can completely change the growth of an industry. As part of its post-war industrial strategy, South Korea, for example, put a lot of money into design schooling.
Companies like Samsung and LG have become world leaders in electronics by promoting innovation through product design. A key factor in their success is the incorporation of cutting-edge design into their products.
Similarly, design education in Japan has played a crucial role in the success of renowned brands like Sony and Toyota. Their emphasis on aesthetics, functionality and user experience has been fundamental to their achievements in the market.
A report from McKinsey & Company in 2022 says that design-led businesses grow their revenues twice as fast as other companies. Using design thinking in the manufacturing process helps companies make unique goods that stand out in crowded markets, which increases profits.
A degree in Product Design could have a significant social impact beyond just boosting the economy. It could inspire individuals to start their own businesses and generate innovative ideas within their communities. For example, creating affordable medical devices or eco-friendly consumer goods in Bangladesh could greatly improve people's lives and position the country as a leader in sustainable, innovative products.
Aspiring designers often have to go abroad for their education or settle for related fields like architecture or graphic design, which don't provide the specialised skills needed for product design. This situation contributes to brain drain—a long-standing issue for Bangladesh and makes it challenging to foster new ideas and innovations within the country.
Universities need to make sure that their courses teach both theory and practical skills, giving students real-life experience with things like user research, product development and modelling. Students could get jobs, work on real-world projects and learn about current problems in the business world by forming partnerships with local businesses.
At the same time, funding and policy incentives from the government could help get the project off the ground and make sure it lasts.
As Bangladesh moves towards the 4th Industrial Revolution and economic diversification, it is important and timely to create a university degree in product design. By encouraging a new crop of designers, the country can find the creative spark it needs to go beyond low-cost production and become a centre for new ideas.
By doing this, Bangladesh can guarantee its place in the world economy as both a producer and a designer of world-class goods that will help the economy grow for decades to come.
Dr Sajal Chowdhury is an architect, educator at the Department of Architecture, CUET and researcher focusing on Environmental Experience Design, Architectural Science and Well-being.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard
