WHY THE NEED FOR A BELGIUM DESIGN COUNCIL?

What’s it all about? I hear people asking. You’re calling it Belgium? Belgium? What side are you on? Is it Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels Region? Yes, it’s Belgium and I am willing to work with all. The Flemish, Walloons, Expats, locals, foreigners based here, everyone. “Oh, not sure that will work, a united Belgium Design Council”.

Yes, well that’s just what I did. It’s Belgium. Sounding like it’s some kind of ‘Authority’ with the ‘Council’, well it’s not. It’s not a Governmental institution nor is it a EU spin off Design organization. It’s mine. It’s yours. It is for everyone. It’s the Belgium Design Council.

With an idea that had been festering for a long period, lot’s of research and reading, attending various conferences on Design and Design Thinking, Shaping Cities, what this means and talking to people about it. Yes, talking and connecting, something I’ve been told many a time I do well, I guess this comes from being Scottish, I always reply. Yes, it’s always good to listen. Listening to what’s happening at ground level. Understanding what is it that people are saying in our high streets and communities.

For years, I was one of those people too. Questioning why is this happening and why is that not happening. I was waiting…waiting for something to happen. Waiting for some of the great exciting plans of certain infrastructure projects on my side of the Town and beyond, to ‘take off’.

Grand plans of the Canal area on the North side of the City here, changing the landscape of this side of Town, to make it one of those hip, happening Camden Town or Islington type of areas, you see in London. Or for my local High Street to become the ‘Champs Elysees’ of the North side of Brussels, leading up to this spectacular Basilica. Instead we see continuation of shops closing down, some to re-open and some to stay permanently closed. The lack of vision for our High Streets is a loss to our Communities. Yet, we have been fortunate to at least see some proactivity and great initiatives from our local Commune, in order to re-enforce the community spirit. Of course there is always room to ‘value engineer’ as such.

There is room for improvement throughout our City Centres. From the ‘Smart City’ visions to opportunities to create a coherent strategy for our businesses and retailers and City districts. Using creativity, design thinking, technology and innovation as key levers for change.

Waiting for things to change is not an option anymore, is not the right thing to do. We have to take action now!

I have decided to take things into my own hands. ‘People have the Power’ as I hear from some our Ministers, it’s time to change things. I have seized this opportunity, born out of certain frustrations and have decided to launch the Belgium Design Council.

The BDC is about collaborations and joining forces. I am fortunate to have a strong professional network and feel blessed to have some of my contacts in the Advisory Board, as the consultancy Team. Experts from the Operation’s field, Production, Retail, Design thinking & Strategy, Finance & Legal.

It’s about collaborating with Governments, Cities, Communes, Organizations, Enterprises and creative individuals. It’s about collaborating and bringing in experts together for specific projects and brainstorming and finding solutions, frameworks and IMPLEMENTING.

Sharing best practices with those who have achieved success in implementing similar projects in other Cities home and abroad. Whilst utilizing some of the amazing creative talents we have in our Cities. To give the people the say in what can be achieved in their Cities and Communes, working together with the dynamic creative talents and with our local Communes and Governments.

With some ambitious projects in the pipeline, I believe it’s time for a change and time for some action plans, resulting in implementation and be the drivers for that change that it so desired.

Being fully aware of the political hurdles to jump, with the complex structure of Belgian politics in Cities such as Brussels, we are ready to make that leap and keep going…It is the EU Capital after all.

From our Retailers, Local Businesses, High Streets, Citizens and Communities, we can together by sharing and collaborating, create a better world.

What do you think? Do you want see a change? Are you a change maker and have a vision of how your Commune and City should look? We are open to collaborating with dynamic people and companies. If you are interested to know more about what kind of projects we are going to be working on and how you can help, feel free to contact us at info@belgiumdesigncouncil.com.