Jamaica & Design

 

As long as humankind as been around we have been creating or planning how to create something. 

Handcart man navigating the busy streets of 

downtown Kingston, heading to Coronation Market. 

Various cultures have had significant influence on product design in Jamaica; from: the Tainos – Hammock and Jerk, the African – Bankra basket, Yabba pot, Marta pestle and the Europeans – architecture (Georgian building, fretwork) and the Rastafarian's – music, art, craft and language.

Jamaica has produced its own brand of creations and innovations for example: the Handcart, the Sound System Box, Dutch Pot, Coal Stove, Jerk Pan, Breshe Ring, Coconut Brush, Calabash and Cowhorn bags.  Our foods like Bulla, Bun, Hardo Bread, Busta, Asham and Drops are all unique Jamaican creations.

Steps have been taken to implement a design policy for Jamaican products.  ‘The National Industrial Policy – A Strategic Plan for Economic Growth and Development’ was presented to the nation but the implementation of the policy was partial, various attempts have been made to develop a plan for craft design such as Edward Seaga’s Ministry Paper entitled ‘Craft Development Policy’.  However these strategies are yet to be realized.

Yet the design industry is not without regulation.  There are various government agencies that train, evaluate, regulate and protect products and services.  These institutions have their own policies, procedures and guidelines for the industry.

Regulatory Bodies

• The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) – formulates, promotes and implements standards for goods, services and processes.  The Bureau develops and enforces technical regulations for commodities and practices that affect health and safety.

• National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) – promotes sustainable development by ensuring protection of the environment.  NEPA regulates product that impact on the environment or that uses natural resources; such as the Lignum Vitae wood.

• Jamaica Production (JAMPRO) promotes the development of trade and industry, and export and investment activities in all sectors of the Jamaican economy.  Focus is placed on targeted sectors like tourism, agri-business, information and communication technology, mining, the creative industries and manufacturing.

• Tourism Development Product Company (TPDCo) maintains, develops and enhances the tourism product, ensuring compliance with international standards. TPDCo plans and promotes various strategies for product diversification through heritage tourism, events tourism, community tourism and eco-tourism.

• The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) provides professional consultations for business owners and entrepreneurs on product design, business plans, financing, marketing and preparing for exporting.

• The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) administers intellectual property systems in the areas of Trade Marks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, Copyright and Related Rights, Patent, New Plant Varieties and Layout-Designs (Topographies).  They assist business owners and entrepreneurs to identify Intellectual Property (IP) opportunities and recommend steps to protect and exploit their IP.

There is no framework for training in product design. Institutions like Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts, The University of the West Indies, University of Technology and the Northern Caribbean University offer programmes aimed at introducing design methodology.  

There is a lot of research and development that comes out of these universities that aid the design industry in Jamaica.  Such as the Northern Caribbean Universities research into the health benefits of sorrel; a drink made from the Roselle plant that is consumed mostly in the Christmas season.