The council, which includes presidents of various companies, trade union representatives and government officials, is expected to develop strategies to define a Turkish design policy and increase Turkey's competitive power in the international arena to this end. The commission will also convey their suggestions to the government. The decision was published in the Official Gazette Thursday. The advisory council has a goal of introducing Turkish design as a unique brand to appeal to more people in world markets in addition to establishing a healthy infrastructure on which to build new design strategies, create design products with high added-value and provide effective cooperation between Turkish designers and industrialists.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will preside over the council's studies, and members will meet at least twice a year to discuss contemporary design issues. The council members consist of undersecretaries from the tourism, education and industry ministries, officials from the State Planning Organization (DPT), Treasury representatives, an academic appointed by the Higher Education Board (YÖK) and the presidents of the Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB), the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Turkish Exporters Union (TİM) and the Turkish Tradesmen's and Artisans' Confederation (TESK).
Representatives of Turkish design, graphics and architecture firms and unions are also on the council. The mission of the Turkish Design Advisory Council encompasses informing society about the concept of design, organizing competitions, training and research sessions for young Turkish designers, following developments in the global design sector and providing healthy collaboration between sector representatives.
