Published on: 2026-04-22
Source: Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great –
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At the National Center “Russia” and the A. N. Kosygin Russian State University, the IV Russian Design Industry Forum took place — a key federal platform for discussing the role of design in the development of the domestic economy and industry. Active participation in the event was taken by Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Engineering and Construction Institute of SPbPU, and Semen Shchur, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of ISI.
The forum was organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. The event co-organizers included the National Center “Russia”, the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Agency for Creative Industries”, the Russian State University named after A. N. Kosygin, and the Union of Designers of Russia.
The main theme of the forum this year was “Design as Strategy: the Formula for the Success of a Domestic Product.” The event brought together representatives of government authorities, business, industrial enterprises, design communities, educational institutions, and experts from the creative industries to develop specific solutions for transforming design into a strategic factor for the development of the country’s economy.
More than 40 expert sessions and discussions took place at the forum. Participants discussed a wide range of topics: design as a strategy for the success of domestic products, authenticity and diversity of Russian design, integration of industrial design and digital technologies to form new markets, national identity in the global design space, cooperation with BRICS, ASEAN and the Middle East countries, user experience metrics, design sprints for small and medium-sized businesses.Experts assessed the role of history and culture as the foundation of modern Russian design, as well as the training of personnel and the youth agenda of the industry.
At the site of the A. N. Kosygin Russian State University, specialists searched for a balance between global trends and the formation of a national design school. Participants discussed issues of integrating cultural codes into modern products, strategies for building sustainable brands, and mechanisms for promoting domestic developments in the internal and external markets.
The moderator of the section “Industrial Design: Cooperation of Science and Business” was Elena Druzhinina, the managing director for science and business cooperation of the state corporation “Roste”. Participants discussed formats of interaction between universities, creative bureaus, corporations, and the state for the development of the industrial design industry.
At the national center “Russia,” experts analyzed the revival of the Russian design system, key competencies and skills, the impact of design communications on the effectiveness of attracting users, the development of small businesses with the help of design, and the development of design codes of the regions.
At the plenary session “Authenticity and Diversity of Russian Design: A Strategy for the Success of Domestic Products,” participants discussed the authenticity and diversity of Russian design as the basis for the success of domestic products and a strategic direction ensuring the sustainable development of the country. Deputy of the State Duma, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, graduate of the Engineering and Construction Institute of SPbPU Denis Kravchenko, speaking at the plenary session, reported that the Ministry of Economic Development is completing the preparation of a strategy for the development of the creative economy up to 2036.
Among our key tasks is the removal of infrastructural, personnel, market, and export barriers for designers, small studios, and local brands. Support for the creative industries is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, which make up the core sector. The set task is that the share of creative sectors in Russia’s GDP should grow from the current 2% to 6% by 2030.
,— emphasized Denis Kravchenko in his speech.
At the section “Industrial Design: Cooperation of Science and Business,” Semen Shchur delivered a report on the topic “Current Directions of Cooperation between SPbPU and Enterprises in the Field of Industrial Design.” The organizers of the section were the state corporation “Rostechnologies,” the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, PSU named after A. N. Kosygin, the ANO “Creative Economy,” and the FGBU “Center for Scientific and Technological Development under the Government of the Russian Federation.” The session was also attended by the head of the science and business cooperation direction of “Rostechnologies,” Andrey Tolmachev.
Partners discussed issues of developing design as a strategic tool for the development of state corporations, key success factors in creating products for civil use, protection of intellectual property in developing innovative products, as well as the role of the creative industry in the industrial sector.
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