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Press Release

Skills Framework for Design to nurture design-empowered workforce to meet demands of future economy

6 min read

In-demand career opportunities spanning design, business, technology and innovation.

  1. The Skills Framework for Design was launched by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing this morning, at the inaugural Design Conversations 2019. The industry dialogue will be an annual gathering of stakeholders from design and non-design industries to discuss strategies and opportunities for Singapore’s design sector. 
  2. Jointly developed by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg), SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, the Skills Framework for Design is an integral part of the Industry Transformation Map for Professional Services. This national resource contains key sector information, career pathways, job roles, existing and emerging skills, as well as relevant training programmes required for the job roles. It promotes skills mastery and lifelong learning to support the creation of a design-empowered workforce for an innovation-driven economy. 
  3. The Skills Framework for Design covers 25 job roles across four tracks – design, business, innovation and technology. The Skills Framework includes 18 generic as well as 48 technical skills and competencies, such as business model innovation, user experience design and design thinking practice. This information is relevant for designers who want to deepen and broaden their skillsets, and non-designers who wish to be equipped with design-related skills to lead innovation at the workplace. 
  4. Minister Chan noted the role of a design-empowered workforce in driving innovation in Singapore: “To stay resilient against changing economic demands, Singapore needs a skilled workforce to unlock new opportunities. The Skills Framework for Design is an important collaboration between the Government and industry to help companies stay ahead, leveraging design as a strategic asset for innovation. Designers and professionals from other sectors can now tap the Skills Framework to chart rewarding careers. This will help us grow a design-empowered workforce and build a robust, innovation-driven economy.” 
  5. The Skills Framework for Design offers a common skills language for individuals, employers and training providers. It enables individuals to assess their career interests, identify relevant training programmes and prepare for desired job roles. Employers can better identify relevant skills and invest in employee training to maintain a strong talent pool. Training providers can gather insights about sector trends and emerging skills in demand, enabling them to design programmes that address industry needs. 
  6. The Skills Framework for Design is part of the Dsg’s broader Design Industry Manpower Plan to prepare and nurture a design-empowered workforce of the future that can apply design-led approaches to solve complex issues, across sectors. 
  7. The Design Industry Manpower Plan contains strategies that cut across the learning continuum – from General Education and Pre-Employment Training to Continuing Education and Training. It aims to help designers develop transdisciplinary skillsets and build a workforce with design sensibilities. Among the Plan’s other components are the recommendations by the Design Education Review Committee (DERC) introduced in early July 2019. More information on the Design Industry Manpower Plan and the DERC recommendations can be found in Annexes A and B respectively in the downloadable media release below.
  8. For a start, seven organisations have committed to adopting the Skills Framework for Design. They include global companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, a public service agency, a corporate training provider as well as an Institute of Higher Learning. These early adopters are PALO IT, Foolproof, Aleph, STUCK, Dsg, METHODOLOGY and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. More information on the Skills Framework for Design and early adopters can be found in Annex C in the downloadable media release below.
  9. The Skills Framework for Design will enable Singapore’s workforce to develop the relevant skills and competencies for their desired design-related job roles to meet the evolving demands of the future economy.

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About the DesignSingapore Council

DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg) vision is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city through design by 2025. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. The Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board. For more information, please visit designsingapore.org.

About SkillsFuture Singapore

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) drives and coordinates the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement, promotes a culture of lifelong learning and strengthens the ecosystem of quality education and training in Singapore. Through a holistic system of national SkillsFuture initiatives, SSG enables Singaporeans to take charge of their learning journey in their pursuit of skills mastery. SSG also works with key stakeholders to ensure that students and adults have access to high quality and industry-relevant training that meet the demands of different sectors of the economy for an innovative and productive workforce. For more information, please visit www.ssg.gov.sg.

About Workforce Singapore

Singaporeans are able to have better jobs and careers. Workforce Singapore, in partnership with key stakeholders, also provides support to business owners and companies to enable them to transform and grow, while building a future-ready workforce. Please visit www.wsg.gov.sg for more information.

Written on : 24 Jul 2019

Media Release

Launch of Skills Framework for Design

Media contact

Esther Ng

Edelman Singapore

D +65 9782 5450
Justin Lutian

Edelman Singapore

D +65 6347 2337
Shan Singam

SkillsFuture Singapore
Corporate Marketing and Communications

D +65 6512 1060

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VISIT
Singapore’s highest honour for designers and designs across all disciplines
One of Asia’s premier design festivals that champions design thought leadership
National Design Centre