RKS, the California-based design consultancy, has recently launched their "Design in USA" brand certification mark to help, "enhance and broaden the 'Made In' labeling."
There is no doubt that American design is currently experiencing a renaissance of sorts—"From Apple to Zipcar, creative design is at the heart of entrepreneurial success in the USA," explains Bill Moggridge, Director, Smithsonian/Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. As Ravi K. Sawhney, CEO of RKS explains, "Better branding our design community is one simple but powerful step to make our voice and value better known. I hope the creation and use of this brand will be a catalyst for a broader emergence of recognition, pride and optimism for the incredible things designers are creating every day in America because of our diversity, ingenuity and spirit."
In a time when the strength and value of American manufacturing has come to the forefront of public discussion, it is a curious move to shift the focus to the more opaque conversation of a product being designed in the United States. What are your thoughts for the brand certification? Do you have plans to use it for future products?
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