Vitalizing the finnish design ecosystem - Case: Development of the national design network collaboration platform

摘要

Design service networks are a current means for Finnish design service providers to broaden their service portfolios and to secure and engage in demanding projects from large clients. Collaboration processes within the design service network are fundamentally constituted of the ways in which designers think and work together, the tools and methods they use within their common projects and the physical and virtual platform provided to maintain and manage the collaboration. Sharing knowledge is a core component of network collaboration. It builds trust between stakeholders; it manifests common values and objectives laying the basis for the creation of new knowledge within the network.This research project examines knowledge creation activities within the Finnish design ecosystem, namely the development that lead to the creation of the Co-Design Bay -collaboration platform concept in the city of Lahti between 2012-2015. Using data from project meetings, discussions and interviews with Finnish design organizations and the network of knowledge‐intensive design business service firms, I explore the theories of Ikujiro Nonaka and his associates. Results from applying Nonaka’s theories to the information gathered suggest that, first, utilizing knowledge creation processes collectively in a network setting is more likely to lead to improvements in design services than the application of individual knowledge. Second, sourcing of external knowledge, especially from peers, partners and customers, is more productive in design business development than local and progressive knowledge creation within a service unit. Information gathering from the design ecosystem and co-operation between network partners to find and create knowledge thus support the development of knowledge intensive design services.The thesis addresses the following questions: 1) What are the reasons that lead to the development of a holistic collaboration platform concept for the national design ecosystem instead of a local internet-based service? 2) What further actions does the application of Nonaka’s theories highlight, that could be utilized to vitalize the Finnish design ecosystem? 3) What would be the implications of realizing development processes based on the paths highlighted by Nonaka’s theories, compared to the current plan of developing a platform to enhance collaboration between stakeholders of the Finnish design ecosystem?