Better by Design is a specialist group within New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, New Zealand's national economic development agency, based in Auckland.

We help companies increase their international competitiveness by integrating design principles right across their business. Our Design Integration Programme teaches design thinking and the tools of design integration to management teams through a sequence of learning activities. Companies are partnered with experts from the private sector and activities address real company challenges and opportunities.

We also connect ambitious companies with leading international business experts and design practitioners through learning experiences such as our Study Tours and CEO Summits. 

We have strong and vital links with the private sector. Better by Design's Advisory Board, made up of five of New Zealand's foremost design practitioners and business leaders, provides counsel and direction. Our team of in-house specialists have significant private sector experience. 

How it all started

In 2003, a Design Taskforce consisting of designers, academics and business leaders developed a strategy that would boost New Zealand's economic growth through the better use of design.

The Design Taskforce's report, Success by Design, recommended ways New Zealand businesses could become more design-capable. In 2004, a Better by Design team was established to deliver the recommended programme to export-focused businesses and the design community.

Since then, we have assisted around 150 companies to become more design enabled. We have evolved our programme over time with input from our customers, and business and design leaders from around the globe. With the confidence of this learning, we have progressed our offering from a 'telling how' advisory model, to a collaborative 'learning by doing' approach.