EU Design Consultation

OHIM's website brings news of a new EU consultation on design. Based on the Commision Working Document "Design as a driver of user-centred innovation", the consultation is open until 26 June.

Here's the opening of the Executive Summary of the Working Document:

The Commission Staff Working Document on ‘Design as a driver of user-centred innovation’ analyses the contribution of design to innovation and competitiveness. The results are compelling: companies that invest in design tend to be more innovative, more profitable and grow faster than those who do not. At a macro-economic level, there is a strong positive correlation between the use of design and national competitiveness.
Although often associated with aesthetics and the ‘looks’ of products only, the application of design is in reality much broader. User needs, aspirations and abilities are the starting point and focus of design activities. With a potential to integrate for example environmental, safety and accessibility considerations — in addition to economic — into products, services and systems, design is an area which deserves public attention.

According to the Commission, the Working Document "provides an analysis of the rationale for making design an integral part of European innovation policy." The aim of the consultation "is to find out whether more should be done at EU level in the area of design and if so, what." My answer is that more funding and training ought to be put into anti-piracy measures to stem the tide of ripoffs.