U.S. National Design Policy Initiative

U.S. NDPI supports the launch of DIGMA, Design Industry Group of Massachusetts

On June 10, 2009,  Dori Tunstall, organizer of the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative, participated in the launch of DIGMA, the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts. DIGMA is the first of what the Initiative hopes to be more State-level design industry, government, and education collaborative policy groups. 

During the event, DIGMA launched their new website, www.digma.us, and announced their upcoming programs including the Massachusetts Design Festival in September 2009. Founding director, Beate Becker, asked Dori Tunstall along with Greg Bialecki, Secretary of Housing & Economic Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to speak about the importance of design policy at the Federal and State levels.

Secretary Bialecki highlighted the importance of design to Massachusetts' economy and the State's responsiveness to designers' cries for design excellence in government design. Dori emphasized how U.S. governance operates at both the Federal and State levels. Thus, the wide adoption of design policy will only take place when their are "design councils" at both levels.  Dori's presentation is available for download. DIGMA launch prez_final (PDF 3.1. MB). It provides a great overview of what the U.S. has already been doing regarding design policy for economic competitiveness and democratic governance.

The U.S. National Design Policy Initiative is really proud of what DIGMA has accomplished since forming in 2007. They represent a model for the other 50 States.

Report on Meeting with the USPTO

On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative met with the staff of the USPTO including:

• John Doll, Acting Under Secretary of IP and Acting Director USPTO;
• Jasemeen Chambers, Director of Technology Center 2900;
• Mary Critharis, Karin Ferriter, and Tom Hinckey, Advisers in Office of IP Policy and Enforcement;
• Nicole Dretar, Legal Advisor, Office of Latent Legal Administration;
• Joel Sincavage, Design Practice Specialist, Tech Center 2900;
• Elizabeth Dougherty and Brian Hanlon, Sr. Advisers to Acting the Undersecretary and Director.

The desired outcomes of the meeting were to:

1. Get a clear POV on the USPTO's willingness and feasibility of supporting an American Design Council and Assist. Secretary of Design and Innovation position
2. Develop a set of well defined next steps/conversations for the Initiative and other design policy proposals.

The outcomes of the meeting were productive and we left with the following understandings:

1. the USPTO believes that an American Design Council is a good idea
2. our mandate is broader that USPTO, thus we need to find an appropriate home for the American Design Council within Commerce but at a higher level, the Office of Science and Technology in the White House, or even a Presidential Advisory Council
3. the concept of an Assistant Secretary of Design and Innovation position within Commerce is a "heavy lift" and probably infeasible
4. the design communities need to work closer with the USPTO regarding issues of Intellectual Property. Our advice and recommendations would be welcomed and we can do more to share with the design communities the resources that the USPTO provides.

We left the meeting with a great ally in Eleanor Meltzer, Chief of Staff for the USPTO. We are now working with her to elevate our message with Secretary Locke and other incoming Under Secretaries in the Department of Commerce.

In attendance from the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative were:

• Dr. Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall, Organizer, U.S. National Design Policy Initiative
• Mr. Paul Mendelsohn, V.P. Government and Community Relations, American Institute of Architects
• Mr. Andrew Goldberg, Senior Director of Federal Relations, American Institute of Architects
• Mr. William O. Barrett, Executive Director, Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design
• Mr. Brian Vogel, Interim Executive Director, Industrial Designers Society of America