[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A DESIGN COUNCIL

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                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 29, 1994

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with Mr. 
Valentine, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Klein, Mr. McHale, and Mr. Johnson of 
Georgia, in introducing legislation to establish a Design Council in 
the Department of Commerce. The purpose of the Council is to promote 
awareness of the importance of design to the successful 
commercialization of technologies and to improving U.S. 
competitiveness.
  In recent years, the design of products has been increasingly 
recognized as an economic tool for gaining the competitive edge in 
today's global market. When introduced early in the production process, 
design can reduce manufacturing costs, improve quality, and save the 
consumer and manufacturer money while reducing waste caused by poorly 
designed products. By defining design as a practice or continuous 
process involving an entire organization rather than as a separate 
component, this concept becomes accepted as a link in a chain of 
factors required for success.
  Many of our international competitors have long recognized that 
design can be an essential element to improving economic prosperity. 
Today there are more than 100 design councils in countries around the 
world, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, France, 
Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, Denmark, and Finland. Virtually all are 
funded either in whole or in part by their respective governments. 
Currently there is no comprehensive and coordinated approach to design 
in the public or private sectors in the United States, although there 
are some scattered activities ongoing which promote design.
  The bill I am introducing today would establish a U.S. Design Council 
as an advisory committee within the Department of Commerce to be 
composed of seventeen members from the business, design, engineering, 
information technology, labor, and government sectors. The Council 
would provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce 
on matters related to excellence in design, including the establishment 
of voluntary standards in the design of U.S. products and systems; the 
provision of information to U.S. businesses on the use of design in 
promoting their competitiveness; and the education of the general 
public regarding the relevance of design to their quality of life.

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