Dutch Design Mission Uganda
Design Hub Kampala and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda organize the first Dutch Design Mission from 12 to 17 February 2017. A group of seven Dutch creative companies and institutions will meet and work with seven Ugandan counterparts and many more creative professionals with the aim to explore opportunities to grow their business in partnership.
Design Hub Kampala (DHK) is a co-working space where creative companies and professionals in various sizes and of all disciplines work from. DHK members share space and equipment with the ultimate goal to grow the quality and size of their own business as well as to grow the creative industry in Uganda as an economic sector. Design Hub Kampala aims to grow by collaborating within Uganda but also by connecting to international networks of creative companies.
The Dutch Design Mission is the first step in DHK’s aim to strengthen the Creative Industry in Uganda through a partnership with the Creative Industry in the Netherlands.
The Dutch creative industry is one of the key sectors of the Dutch government. Dutch Design has become a world famous export product. The Dutch creative industry is currently gaining considerable international acclaim and has particularly strong profiles in architecture, fashion, gaming, design, media and entertainment. How the Dutch have promoted its creative industry is an inspiring example of how an industry can grow if stakeholders come together. What are the success factors of the Dutch approach? Is there something for Uganda that we can learn from this approach?
In Uganda the connection between creativity and economy is lacking. Generally speaking, the arts in Uganda are being looked at from a perspective of historic memory and cultural identity. The economic value of creativity is not yet recognized. This is a missed opportunity for both the “makers” as well as of the industry. Creative services are mainly used to “decorate”. Not to solve problems using the unique capacity of designers, which is being labelled and recognized in the west as “design thinking”. Designers / artists therefore remain under-utilized and underpaid. Furthermore, the local manufacturing industry is lacking good designs, which makes it difficult to compete with foreign brands. If Uganda wants to bridge this gap there is a necessity to look into new ways of working. Not only to focus inward, working each within your own confined space, but reaching out to share knowledge and to work multi-disciplinary. Therefore Design Hub Kampala wants to bring Uganda’s best companies together and promote co-working and on a strategic level, DHK wants to frame the creative industry as a viable economic sector. DHK wants to promote all successful disciplines, such as fashion, software, graphic, brand, architectural design, as one sector of economic importance.
The Dutch Design Mission is a first step in a long-term partnership in which both the creative industry in The Netherlands as well as in Uganda want to grow their businesses.
Participants Uganda
Design without Borders - Add Value Creators - Made in Africa TV - Adengo Architects - Kyambogo University arts faculty - Martyrs University - Mango Tree Education Enterprises
Participants the Netherlands
Flex/Design - Proud Design - Beroepsvereniging Nederlandse Ontwerpers - Hogeschool van de Kunsten Utrecht - Generous Minds - MVO Nederland / Twentyone - TUNGA