Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
industrial design, Art university of Isfahan, Isfahan
2
Iran University of Science and Technology: Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Industrial Design, Art university of Isfahan Verified email at aui.ac.ir
10.30480/vaa.2026.6196.2057
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to provide an introduction to the state of national design policy and analyze the dimensions of Iran's design ecosystem.
Questions and Framework: The main research questions concern the status of national design policy based on upstream documents, and the position of Iran's design ecosystem within Whicher's nine-dimensional framework (governance, budget, support, promotion, education, designers, users, actors, and research).
Method: Data were gathered through document analysis (laws, development plans, and official reports) and semi-structured interviews with eight industrial design experts, followed by directed qualitative content analysis. [Findings] The findings indicate the absence of a coherent design policy in Iran, with governance, budget, and support being "almost absent." The exclusive focus on the quantitative expansion of design education over the past three decades has led to an asymmetric ecosystem development, leaving other dimensions neglected. The lack of a national trustee institution and weak coordination among actors were identified as the main structural gaps.
Conclusion: This research demonstrates that the lack of a national design policy and the absence of a designated institutional body are the most significant barriers to balanced ecosystem development in Iran. Therefore, the article emphasizes the urgent necessity of establishing a national design institution with legal authority, formulating a comprehensive national design policy document, and creating a balance between the quantitative expansion of education and the reinforcement of governance, budget, and support dimensions.
Main Subjects
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