THE UNDERSTANDING AND USE OF DESIGN MANAGEMENT IN TURKEY:
A CASE STUDY OF SITELER FURNITURE INDUSTRY

In the developed countries, design management plays a significant role over 50 years and refers to an approach for organisations to make design-relevant decisions in a market and customer-oriented way as well as optimizing design-relevant (enterprise-) processes. Particularly, the economic importance of design and its use as a communication and strategic business tool has reinforced the status of design management, placing the true potential of design as a tool for innovation and change high on the business agenda.

From the perspective drawn, as a developing country and a candidate of European Union, it is interesting to know and discuss how Turkey understands and uses ‘Design Management’ in the Turkish Furniture industry. Ankara Siteler region of furniture industry is chosen as a case study for this study.