Celebrating Diversity - Designit Welcomes China. By Anders Geert Jensen, Chief International Officer, Designit

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People often ask why Designit opened an office in China – a country where design is all too often copied rather than created. Here, fake iPhones abound. Almost all Mp3 music downloads are illegal in international terms. Even our own eyewear design has been copied by businesses in the country.

But our answer is unequivocal: China is fascinating. The fast-moving, efficient country is hurtling along a dynamic development path, which any international company striving for competitiveness must follow.

Driving Innovation
That’s why Designit established a presence in Shanghai earlier this year. As an international company with a global mindset, Designit wants to contribute and be part of China’s future development. Today, two years after Designit’s first official business visit to China, our commitment to doing business in the country is stronger than ever.

China is different from the rest of the world in terms of its mentality, culture and approach. In our experience, for example, the Chinese take pride in striking the best deal, while we take pride in creating the best solution. But at Designit, we revel in this diversity. It forces us to think innovatively and to constantly explore new perspectives.

Future Collaboration
Designit sees a great opportunity for collaborating with businesses in China in the future. Ambitious and result-oriented, they are increasingly aware of the need for value-creating branding and innovation. Growing numbers are currently investing in brand-building initiatives in order to gain differentiation in a fiercely competitive marketplace.

We also expect the Chinese business community to gradually embrace Europe’s emphasis on intellectual property rights. At the same time, we also expect to see the European business community taking the lead from China in technology.

When China is going to say goodbye to imitation and hello to creativity is impossible to say. But this step will undoubtedly require common rules and a shared attitude. Everyone must be prepared to change and adapt. At Designit, we’re looking forward to the challenge.

About Designit
Designit is a strategic design consultancy with integrated services in innovation, product design, interactive design, service design, branding and communication. By combining human needs with strategy, Designit acts as an agent of change for society and its business community. With offices in Copenhagen, Munich, Oslo, Aarhus, Paris and Shanghai, Designit is one of Europe’s largest and most international design consultancies. Designit works for a range of sectors, including consumer electronics, healthcare and transportation.

www.designit.com

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