The setting up of Design Malta seems to have benefited both students who have taken part, as well as the companies and small enterprises within which they were placed – according to a workshop session held at the university yesterday.

Four students from the MCAST’s Art and Design Faculty explained that they had taken up summer placements with four local companies with the aim of using their three-dimensional (3D) design skills to help create a better end product.

Parliamentary secretary Edwin Vassallo said the aim of Design Malta was to help small and medium enterprises become more competitive through utilising design techniques. “This, of course, is all linked to reaching our competitiveness goals as set out in the Lisbon Agenda,” he said.

He also said that the aim of the scheme was to bring industry and students closer together so as to gain the best possible advantages for both parties.

Jonathan Borg, chairman of Design Malta gave a presentation during the event and said that design affects every aspect of everyday life. “It is a man-made world we live in, but that means that everything we handle must be designed to start with,” he said.

He said that Malta should exploit the advantages of design, especially in regard to costs and competitiveness. “SMEs need to flourish, they need more market share and they need to produce better quality products. They also need to develop new products at a fast rate and at a lesser cost. How can they do that? Through design,” Dr Borg said.

The four students concerned said they had learned a lot from their placements, carrying out varying design projects. What they all noticed was that apart from their own honing of skills, the companies benefited because clients could see exactly what they wanted through various 3D designs that had been created.

“It’s a win-win situation. The companies get more business, we students get to practise and customers also get a good deal because they can customise what they are purchasing as well as see exactly what the product they are after will look like,” said one student. More information about Design Malta is available on the website www.designmalta. com.mt.