Analysis of Diagnostic Tools in Design Management: A Case Study of Arquimuebles

Abstract

The integration of design as a key driver of innovation and competitiveness requires companies to assess its incorporation into strategic decisions and daily operations. However, diagnosis of the level of design integration in organizations is rare. This study examines the case of Arquimuebles, a Colombian company dedicated to the design and manufacture of furniture, through two diagnostic tools applied eight years apart: the Barcelona Design Centre (BCD) Self-diagnosis and the Checking Design Empresarial (CDE) developed by the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. The relevance of these tools, the analytical categories and the results obtained are discussed, identifying two approaches: design process management and design project management as strategies to add value to products and services.