Design-Based Economic Development

Abstract

This research builds on previous work that developed the context for understanding art, design, and culture in local and regional economic development by investigating U.S. cultural institutions housing collections of industrial and product design and exploring their connections to economic development. The research question guiding this inquiry is, “How are collections of industrial and product design functioning as components of economic development strategies?” The analysis of 11 key-person interviews identified indirect connections to economic development among the case institutions, including events, programming, membership groups, and university partnerships. The study concludes by outlining a framework that builds from these existing connections and offers additional strategies for improving the integration of cultural institutions and design collections in design-based economic development approaches.