Better by design is a study published in February 2024 which was commissioned by World Design Weeks as the first phase of a programme with a twofold objective:

• First, to offer stakeholders a clearer understanding of the benefits brought to their cities and regions by festivals that celebrate design and innovation.
• Second, to share knowledge among member organisations, and to provide them with tools and guidance for monitoring and evaluating their impact to underpin and strengthen their case for support.

Written and edited by Kasper de Graaf and produced by Images&Co in partnership with Design Manchester and Gdynia Design Days, the report focuses on the perspective and collective knowledge contained within World Design Weeks, which is explored in discussion with member organisations, through a detailed membership survey with 28 participating festivals, plus analysis of case studies and published reports. It is a snapshot of who we are and what we knew in 2023, setting a baseline for ongoing evaluation and development of best practice to support member organisations and their places in the years to come.

In addition, five case studies from across the network explore placemaking, audience research, community engagement, evaluation methods, and economic analysis.

Download the report here.

Image: Bangkok Design Week