If the government of Trinidad and Tobago were to create a Ministry of Design, what would that ministry do? How can design support governance and how can government support design?

1. Fashion and design
Possible synergies
Case Study:
The Ministry of Design
Lesley-Ann Noel

2. The Ministry of Design
Designing a better Trinidad & Tobago
Concept: Michael Lee Poy and Lesley-Ann Noel
atelierleepoy@gmail.com, lesleyannnoel@gmail.com

3. If the government of
Trinidad and
Tobago were to
create a Ministry of
Design, what would
that ministry do?
How can design
support governance
and how can
government support
design?

4. Aims:
• Generate public
discourse about design
– and the role that it
could play in
governance
• Expand public
knowledge about
design practice (… not
just ‘pixie dust’)
• Increase literature on
Design in the
Caribbean /
Developing countries
• Create a culture of
writing (and reading
about design)

5. Engaged
students in
producing event
memorabilia.

6. Distributed
memorabilia to
politicians
(including the
Leader of the
Opposition) and
public figures
and told them
about the need
for a Ministry of
Design and the
colloquium

7. Attended
political
rallies to
create
awareness of
the ‘Ministry
of Design’

8. …. And the Minister of
Sport

9. Celebrity
Endorsements:
Nisha B,
Trinidad &
Tobago celebrity
who has a keen
interest in design

10. Used cutting
edge technology
as well for some
memorabilia.

11. Promoted everything
via social media –
which resulted in
television interview
(and more celebrity
endorsements)
#ministryofdesign
#uwidcfa
Instagram, twitter,
FB

12. …. And more media

14. Were able to use the Design
Ecosystem Diagnostic Tool
(developed by Ann Whicher of
Head of Design Policy at
Cardiff Metropolitan University)
to assess current and desired
state of:
• Design actors,
• Design users,
• Design promotion
• Research and Knowledge
exchange
• Design education
• Professional Design Sector
• Policy, governance and
regulation
• Design Funding

15. Good post
event
coverage

16. Colloquium Results
Themes discussed:
• Design and Policy
• Design and Government Systems
• Design and MSME Development
• Design Philosophy underpinning
Design Practice
• Design Standards
• Design Education
• Urban Planning and the
Environment
• Design and Public Projects
…not just ‘pixie dust’….
Highlights:
* Almost 40 proposals for
papers received from US,
UK, Jamaica, PR, DR,
Barbados, Australia and
T&T
* 20 papers presented over
2 days
* Academics and non-
academic contributors
* Good range in age,
gender and ethnicity of
participants
* New writing and design
talent discovered

17. Some synergies
• Fashion and other areas of Design at a nascent
phase regionally – though fashion may be better
understood by the general public
• Activism, Evangelism needed – to generate
interest, demand, support etc.
• Embrace new technology and new media (incl.
social media) in our solutions and responses.
• Policy can support the development of local
industries
• Public discourse can contribute to the
development of policy

18. Continue to look for us on
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as
we continue to campaign for design
in Trinidad and Tobago
#ministryofdesign
#uwidcfa
Thank You!
Lesley-Ann Noel lesleyannnoel@gmail.com
Michael Lee Poy atelierleepoy@gmail.com