Understanding design capabilities required for design-driven entrepreneurship

The case of Hong Kong Design Centre

Bibliographic Data

ID22423381
AuthorsBeibei Liu (0000-0003-3788-018X, Harbin Institute of Technology), Peiyao Cheng (0000-0002-3187-2122, Harbin Institute of Technology), Sylvia Xihui Liu (0000-0002-1791-8745, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-21
Publication date2026-06-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Design Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1460-6925 • E-ISSN: 1756-3062
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14606925.2026.2690439
OpenAlexW7166181029
LanguageEN
References cited54

Design-driven entrepreneurship, where design serves as the core logic of the entrepreneurial process, offers a promising avenue for value creation and innovation. However, a clearer understanding of the specific design capabilities involved and how to effectively manage them is still needed. Addressing this gap, this research explores a framework that identifies five core design capabilities perceived as essential for design-driven entrepreneurship. Through a self-reported survey of Hong Kong Design Centre start-ups, this study examines their perceived association with entrepreneurial success. The findings suggest that Operational Design Capabilities, Project Management Skills, and Internal Design Coordination are particularly important for achieving short-term success, while External Design Coordination and Strategic Design Capabilities are more strongly associated with long-term success. These insights advance the theoretical discourse on design-driven entrepreneurship and offer practical guidance for start-ups to better leverage design.

Core competency · Design management · Design methods · Design strategy · Design Thinking · Entrepreneurship · Strategic design · Design Education and Practice · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Innovation and Knowledge Management

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