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The role of design-led knowledge exchange in supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises to be eco-innovators in the United Kingdom

Chick was invited to contribute a chapter to a critical anthology entitled, The Handbook of Design for Sustainability (Bloomsbury Academic, 2013). The aim of this book is to provide a point of reference for anyone who works in the field of sustainable design – professionals and academics as well as students of design research. The book comprises 33 chapters by international scholars. Each chapter in this peer-reviewed anthology is intended to provide an overview of sustainable design’s development, its methods, its practices and its potential futures.

Chick provides one of the business analysis chapters in this publication. Chick argues design is a crucial business interface between sustainability and innovation practices and discusses how it can be an effective mechanism in supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to innovate. She also suggests that a design-led project approach can make a lasting impression on an SME and deeper engagement can occur, enhancing the possibility of transformative learning. Through her research case study on Remarkable Limited she argues design values can have a demonstrable long lasting impact on an enterprise’s sustainability and innovation practices.

Chick uses a deductive reasoning strategy based on a literature review and social survey research. This book chapter also builds upon the author’s prior research into Remarkable Limited (a small UK manufacturer of recycled stationery products) and research undertaken by the author in: Chick. A. (2008). ‘Green entrepreneurship: a sustainable development challenge’ book chapter in: Mellor [ed.] (2009). Entrepreneurship for everyone. London: Sage (139-150). The research undertaken for this book chapter included four semi- structured telephone and face to face interviews with the Founder and two former senior managers of Remarkable Limited; a design review workshop of Remarkable’s brand, packaging and website designs over the past five years; and a factory site visit.