Tag Archives: Design and Innovation

34th World Design Congress/Design for Planet in London September 9th & 10th, 2025

On September 9th and 10th, 2025 the 34th World Design Congress/Design for Planet is taking place in London, England UK. The research paper “Allegheny to Chesapeake: Building Maryland’s Climate Resilience By Design” is to be published as part of the Congress proceedings being released in October 2025. This paper outlines an inclusive, climate conscious approach to design policy for the State of Maryland. This paper outlines the collaborative opportunity between the highly regarded Maryland-based climate science research resources and the Maryland-based design community to form the foundation for climate-informed design policies. MarylandByDesign applauds the efforts of the World Design Organization in collaboration with the UK Design Council to make this event a reality.

MarylandbyDesign and The Maryland Open Data Project

MarylandbyDesign is dedicated to improving the understanding of design’s impact throughout the State of Maryland. One way to measure this impact is through various data and index indicators. Since 2009, Maryland has used the General Progress Indicator (GPI) to measure various aspects of environmental sustainability which is a significant  aspect of all design practices. The General Progress Indicator measures a different set of factors as compared to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Open Data Project provides another resource for measurement of design as a factor in the States economic growth related to innovation. One of the goals for the soon to be established Maryland Design Excellence Commission is to develop an indicator for how design impacts the quality of life throughout the State of Maryland which would be included in the State’s GPI.

Industrial Designers Society of America Supports Legislation for Maryland Design Excellence Commission

In early April, 2015, Daniel Martinage, Executive Director of
the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) expressed
the full support of the legislation to establish the Maryland
Design Excellence Commission on behalf of the IDSA’s National Members.

The IDSA represents thousands of members around the world, across the United States and in the State of Maryland. The IDSA’s Executive Director stressed the importance of passing the legislation as an important investment in the current and future quality of life for all Maryland Citizens. He explained the extraordinary contribution of designers to innovations that in many instances are live saving, using the examples of medical equipment, child safety seats, computers, mobile phones and GPS.

See the IDSA’s website for the announcement.