By: Tay Tian Wen Long gone are the days where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was seen as a passing fad - with today’s socially conscious employees and consumers, companies are increasingly realising the importance of corporate sustainability and giving back to society. CSR activities not only provide opportunities for companies to give back to society, but also serve as a platform for companies to create creative solutions to everyday business issues. Yet, while companies acknowledge the value of CSR, many struggle at forging mutually beneficial partnerships: small-scale projects offer little tangible benefit to either the company or society, while corporate donations often leave the donating company out of the benefits equation. Even worse, CSR activities designed primarily to enhance a company’s reputation are not only dismissed as advertising gimmicks, but also potentially risky for the company’s public image. Forging a mutually beneficial CSR partnership is a challenging task, but with the right partners and efforts in place to ensure sustainability, both companies and beneficiaries can accrue significant gains from CSR activities. Here are 4 ways how CSR activities can be mutually beneficial! 1. CSR activities generate better operations sustainability of the donor company and the receiving beneficiary organisation Many studies have shown that effective CSR activities promote stronger employee engagement and performance in companies, motivating greater employee loyalty and productivity. On the other hand, beneficiary organisations on the receiving end gain a boost to their financial health, enabling them to sustain current operations and expand their scope of giving. Donor companies fret less over high employee turnovers or lacklustre employee performance, while beneficiary organisations can focus their efforts beyond securing more funding. 2. CSR activities provide a platform for both beneficiaries and donor companies to devise innovative solutions which are otherwise sidelined in normal everyday operations As initiatives which are designed to benefit both the company and society, CSR activities call for strategies which take the interests of both the donor company and beneficiary organisation into account. Effective CSR activities should maximise financial returns for the donor company while fulfilling the social mission of the beneficiary organisation, and conventional business or nonprofit solutions fall short of meeting these two objectives simultaneously. From business models such as “Buy One Give One”, “Goodwill Banking” to customer or operations-driven CSR strategies which shift the equation to a more equal balance between social impact and profit maximisation, Effective CSR activities not only connect the social sector with the private sector, but also motivate intra-sector change which would have been otherwise impossible with conventional routine. 3. Well-executed CSR activities encourage greater investment in both the donor company and beneficiary organisation Successful CSR activities are powerful signals to investors. Done on a consistent basis, they demonstrate commitment and long-term vision; as innovative solutions which adequately accommodate the interests of both the donor company and beneficiary organisation, they indicate creativity and inclusiveness. For beneficiary organisations, successful CSR activities also provide a boost to financial health and even the prospect of expanding the scale of their operations. All these indicate healthy prospects for growth and strong sustainability — ideal conditions for investors looking to make sound investments. 4. Well-executed CSR activities which are conducted consistently have a positive effect on the public’s perception of both the donor company and the beneficiary Just as successful CSR activities are powerful signals to investors, they are also particularly effective in positively shaping public opinion of donor companies and beneficiary organisations. Long-term commitment to a mutually beneficial CSR activity resonates with consumers’ demand for authenticity and social consciousness, and consumers will be better persuaded to stick to a particular brand they feel meets these demands. Beneficiary organisations in effective CSR partnerships also demonstrate that funds given to them are used for productive and ethical purposes. Plus, doing so proves that beneficiary organisations are consultative rather than unilaterally imposing their interests on the community — potential donors are more likely to support, rather than be intimidated by, beneficiary organisations which pay attention to the needs and wants of others in the larger community. About the Author Tian Wen aspires to connect communities one story at a time. He believes words are more than proverbial bridges to everyone's little island, and is always on the lookout for the best tales told around the world. While not racking his brains on his next writing assignment, Tian Wen muses about everyday affairs and pens his reflections at awayintent.me. About Make The Change Pte Ltd (MTC) Make The Change believes in doing good, well. For more information regarding our partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility projects, do visit https://www.makethechange.sg/projects or drop us a mail at info@makethechange.sg

What better time to introduce our newest huat project, DAFA, then the festive month of February? DAFA (Digital Arts For All) is MTC’s exciting venture to bring inclusivity to life. Seeing the value in both digital literacy and digital art, our DAFA team decided to take things up a notch and tapped on these two touchpoints to stitch the community together with the Media Literacy Council. With Singapore’s rocketing smartphone penetration rate and the public sector’s increasing focus on combating online falsehoods (cue The Green Paper discussion shared in January ’18), digital literacy has never been more essential. How else can we reduce the barriers for a safer environment online? On the other hand, the rapid development of digital art has enabled everyone with the tools to be creative. We no longer need to wave out degrees in the Fine Arts nor have Picasso’s works memorised at the back of your mind to be included in the conversation. Holding our hands in-between these two touch-points, DAFA calls for isolating walls to break down as participants create digital art with the DAFA DNA of being smart, safe and kind as a way of life. With a few more workshops coming our way, DAFA has positioned itself to provide value-added sessions pertaining to the interests, lifestyles and surfing habits of its community. Nearing the Chinese New Year, it is also a timely reminder for us to spend quality time together while keeping our loved ones safe. Prosperity comes in ways more than one. Here are 8 ways to DAFA this Chinese New Year: 1. Guard your heart Digital and Media Literacy is the discernment of how and why we create and receive content online. As we create content online to share on Social Media platforms and Micro blogging sites, be it an illustration or text created from scratch, it is always optimal to include a watermark so as to preserve the copyright. Other than that, we can be safer online when we protect our connections. Hiding your friend list on Facebook helps to reduce the likelihood of others leveraging on your existing relations for potential scams. As we tend to trust our known connections a lot more, many of us are much more susceptible to such invitations to give personal information. 2. Filter your emails with discerning eyes Other than these external platforms, our own personal email accounts have to be observed with discernment as well. It is not uncommon for spam emails to flood our inboxes, with some having compelling messages such as the winning of a lucky draw. 3. Double check the credibility of mass-sent/forwarded texts Often underestimated, personal messaging apps are a common avenue likely to cause widespread panic. Again, the messages forwarded from our loved ones naturally gain higher credibility, so when they forward news of “cosmic rays hitting the earth” or a “SGD 400 NTUC Fairprice voucher”, many are quick to believe. Not only should we remind ourselves to fact check these texts with other credible news sources, we should also take the time to remind those around us as well. 4. Look at the source before giving details Furthermore, DAFA’s master trainer for digital literacy, Carol Loi, also underlines how It is important for us to take note of the url and site domains before we key in our personal details as well. This is because there are look-alike sites with urls similar to the large, trusted organisations, posing to urge their audience into giving them personal details such as account passwords. 5. Explore what the digital sphere has to offer Digital art is defined as art created or modified using a computer of other digital mediums. The rapid development and proliferation of computers and softwares have brought about the rise in artists venturing into this space. DAFA workshops use the Procreate app, a detailed-oriented application that boasts of a diverse range of tools, brushes and options to create specific curves, shapes and colours. 6. Remember how the process is just as important as the end-product Besides, the Procreate app also has a time-lapse recording function that films down the process taken to generate the artwork. Popular with numerous artists, time-lapse videos are great to illustrate the perspective behind the scenes. DAFA’s master trainer, Carlos Diaz, uses this function to exemplify his own sketching process as well. 7. Anticipate a rapid flow of ideas DAFA’s workshops also encourage an open-space for ideation to happen. Participants can take a photo of themselves and sketch out the outline, or trace out some ideas from their research online. By adding a few more details, there is so much potential for creativity to manifest. It is also easier for people to create art digitally, enabling it to reach a wider audience than its traditional counterpart. 8. Share the joy across multiple platforms In the world of social-sharing today, there are also fitting options to share the artworks after the workshop. Highly accessible, digital art is a great sphere for facilitators and participants to share their thought process and experience in trying the tool for the first time. Who knows? This might be the beginning of many great conversations to come.

Naturally, the ever-changing society is constantly seeking and asking if it is keeping up with the way individuals communicate with one another. Be it instant sharing or a consistent subscription of newsletters, the nature of communication has been rapidly altered by technology. For the designer in the social service sector, it is crucial to face these changes with a receptive heart, discerning eyes and a pair of nimble feet. The subtle art of communication lies in its facilitation and design- how can we craft out an user experience as fitting as our second skin? Slowly and surely, the role of design has been steering the center role of decision-making and business processes. Albeit being an uncommon career path, design provides an alternative route for PwDs to seek employment. Adding to the list of existing viable professions, openings for designers should be advocated with a loudspeaker. Transforming receivers into givers, the full potential of this untapped pool of talent has yet to be realised. A rising trend in the recent years, more training courses have been focusing on visual communication, digital marketing and even web design for PwDs. Furthermore, there are numerous assistive tools like a special roller mouse and modified keyboard to help passionate designers to overcome disability and focus on ability. Above it all, the most important change that design can bring is a mindset change. As Robert M. Hensel, the Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, advocates: "As a disabled man, let my life be a reflection of the endless amount of ability that exists in each and everyone of us.” Design can open doors and make a way for PwDs to have a sustainable, dignified livelihood. Mimi Ng, a deaf entrepreneur, recounted how her interest in learning has sparked her to sign up for a course in digital marketing. At the end of the course, her positive mindset enabled her gain a better understanding in social media marketing and content creation. With new skills, she was able to further improve on her online business. Starting from home ground, social service organisations can disrupt the local marketplace by supportively engaging PwDs for creative projects. The Senior Manager of Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore (MDAS),Judy Wee, also advocates for more opportunities to link training courses up with employment opportunities thereafter. In order to put learnt skills into good use, these opportunities should follow up as platforms for PwDs to continue honing their craft. Other than freelancing, the corporate workplace is a great platform to engage these inspiring designers as well. Having said that, employers do need to take in a few considerations before making the commitment to engage PwDs. In Singapore, Gobblershop is one of the supporting organisations that engage communities-in-need for their creative projects. Their belief in helping individuals identify and harness abilities to gain self-confidence and meaning in life motivated them to welcome PwDs on board. Before the collaboration, their main concern was over the adjustments and crafting of work processes that would cater better to their new designers. Other than that, they also made sure their whole team was on the same page, with the right mindset and skills to create an inclusive environment for varying needs. Sometimes, a small tweak in the arrangement of office furniture or clearer instructions can drastically help to strengthen and productivity. Adding on to the conversation, we should also be careful so as not to put the cart before the horse. As mindsets change to embrace more PwDs in the design industry, constant attention will need to be given to design and provide quality training courses and exposure for better portfolios. We are definitely charting good progress thus far. For example, 9 out of 16 PwDs found new job employment opportunities after completing a digital marketing course in 2017. Another 2 of them enjoyed a salary increment at work, while 3 others started their own businesses. The remaining 2 students also had companies expressing interest to engage them after attending their final presentation. Facilitating design courses for PwDs are an unique experience as well. Wendy Chan, a lecturer teaching essential communication to PwDs, recalled how teaching a class with a diverse background calls for specific changes to her usual curriculum as well. Some classes have students with different special needs, and sometimes she has to be mindful to explain the content first and before writing or typing it out on the screen again. On anticipating future challenges, Wendy responded that both the employer and employee have to work together for the collaboration to succeed in the long term. While more can be done to strengthen genuine acceptance and celebrate inclusivity in the workplace, the latter also has to possess the confidence and courage to prepare themselves whatever that comes along. Moving forward to design, for good. There is still so much gold that the social service sector can draw out in the world today. For organisations to thrive in the disruptive setting today, effective communication is a poignant key. From crafting purposeful messages to conducting meaningful programmes, design is an essential plug-in to the social service circuit. It is pretty safe to say that there is much space and hope for it to develop further as a way of life, especially for persons with disabilities. For enquiries on where and how to collaborate with our ability-focused designers, we would love to meet up for a chat at https://www.makethechange.sg/contact. We are also honoured to share some of our thoughts on Social Space, the flagship publication of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation, at the Singapore Management University (SMU). The full piece can be viewed on https://socialspacemag.org/designing-for-a-better-tomorrow/. Useful Links and References Amy Eisenstein. Seth Godin on Successful Fundraising - Ask the Fundraising Expert. May 13, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsnap5Oh8S8 Godin, Seth. "The problem with non." September 15, 2009. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/the-problem-with-non.html Testimonial Digital Marketing For PwDs. September 11, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfK5ypf6Fo Inclusive hiring isn’t just about a barrier-free workplace. March 9, 2017. "MTC Integrated Programme for Persons With Disabilities." September 19, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=99&v=nF7JBMeW0a4 Make The Change Pte Ltd. "The MTC Spotlight: GobblerShop." July 13, 2017. SG ENable. "RECRUITMENT & HIRING OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES." SG Enable Online Series for Employers, 2016, 1-45. https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/sgenableprod/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/29062757/SG-Enable-HRM-Guide-Recruitment-and-Hiring.pdf Testimonial- Mimi Ng. September 11, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/MakethechangeSG/videos/vb.330697383702199/1222713521167243/?type=2&theater

Anddd Design For Good is back from Phnom Penh! Other than the great weather and fun Tuk Tuk rides, here are our top 5 things that we would like to share from our travel journal :) 1. Skilled Volunteerism One of our primary goals this trip was to learn more about skilled volunteerism, and how we can connect the right people to the right place, at the right time. Besides a willing heart, a pair of skillful hands speak volumes on how we can add value into the lives of others. Help given in an accurate and timely fashion is akin to an iced glass of fresh water drank under the scorching desert-hot sun. For our Krafters, there is ample space for skilled volunteerism to take place. One of them is product design to put their braiding, sewing and wood crafting skills into good use. Other than that, skills in their other local budding enterprises like landscaping and cooking are great. 2. A community of hosts SMILE Village has been a great community of hosts welcoming students from OCIP and YEP programs. A great learning experience, students are in for a fruitful endeavour as they exchange their understanding and knowledge with the residents. In turn, they get to see how changing contexts and environments demand for different factors and needs to be met. Education is never meant to be confined within the walls of an institution. As the future of work is morphing indefinitely, surely the way we shape our thinking to learn, unlearn and relearn has to go further as well. 3. The dangers of “Ecotourism” We also noted on some of the potential dangers and cons that “ecotourism” might bring. A loosely defined term, ecotourism can bring in more harm than benefits for local communities. A lack of in-depth understanding might send off the wrong message and a mismatch of ideas and resources. For example, the practice of guests is of paramount importance. What is their mindset prior coming for the trip? Sometimes it seems like us city people have everything- but do we really? If we have so much to offer those who don’t live the way we do, then what do we have to offer that they don’t already have? On the state level, many policy makers warn against a superficial giving of foreign aid without sustainable planning. On the individual level, the art of giving propels us to delve in deeper, and challenge ourselves to offer something more that births value and meaning for days to come. 4. Storytelling for SMILE Another one of our biggest takeaways was also a deeper understanding and update of how our Krafters are doing at SMILE Village. Armed with a hearing heart, helpful translators and a bunch of equipment, we set off to capture more creative assets for us to tell their stories through their lenses. Similar to our previous trip, we got a couple of good shots and clips this trip, and the conversations we had with our Krafters and the team at SMILE have realigned our perspectives and grit for the coming seasons. 5. Gratitude Last but not the least, we took this chance to show our appreciation for our Krafters as well. It is not an easy task to discuss and check on ideas consistently for the past six months, and we often had to spend time clarifying the orders of our customers, details and product codes to facilitate a successful delivery. Everyone knows that Rome is not built in a day, and we are truly thankful for the team’s patience and grace shown to us all these while. Moving forward, we see ourselves reaching out to new markets to open up new learning opportunities for our Krafters to turn the skills they have into sustainable businesses of their own. It is a tough calling to remove poverty from the heart, mind and hands, but there is so much potential to change lives, mindsets and hearts for the better, together.

It's the start of the New Year and Design For Good is making a trip to Phnom Penh again! Since our last trip in May 2017, our team has been working closely with the Krafters in Cambodia in the choice of materials, product development cycle, logistics and delivery procedures while keeping each other in sync with the bigger picture (eg. feedback from customers, event exposure). We are thankful for growth in so many ways. For one, we have a more streamlined process in the sending and receiving of orders, with a more precise colour chart to reduce chances of miscommunication. Moving forward, we are looking at how our whole team can grow further in tandem with SMILE Village's plans in the future. Aligning ourselves with their ABCD (assets-based-community-development) model, we seek first to understand what are the strengths, skills and talents of the community before looking for ways to develop them into sustainable businesses. Not only are we looking forward to seeing our Krafters again, we also want to show our appreciation for their hard work invested in so far :')

The general sensing of 2018 flickers a warm touch for those of us at Make The Change. At the beginning of every new year, #newyeargoals help us to reflect on our past year and refresh our perspectives for the next. Seeing how we always had 3 main pillars of impact, there is little surprise that we would come up with 3 resolutions for the new year ;) In the shortest and sweetest sense, 2018 is about growing wisely. Here comes our 3 New Year resolutions: 1. Use what we know to lift others up Creative Services Stepping into our fifth year, Make The Change has been narrowing the gap in the social service sector through the provision of creative services. More often than not, many amazing social services organisations regretfully sell themselves short in communicating their vision, services and why they do what they do. Sometimes a simple, minimalistic brochure or a succinct 30-second video can reflect the gold of the changemaker. Be it an appreciation of a group of dedicated volunteers or the creative documentation of an annual event, creative services help to sharpen the sword so that the social service sector can fight better, from victory ground. Not only is branding crucial to the sustainable growth and advocacy of these fighters, they help to strengthen their competitiveness in the marketplace as well. Many of these organisations have very lean teams, and they often require advice from a seasoned designer’s perspective to generate value for financial and social sustainability. That’s the gap that MTC envisioned ourselves to fill, and we aspire to reach out to more social service organisations in 2018. Sieving out the gold of our clients with storytelling, we will also multiply our impact with the MTC Give Back Programme, where we provide creative service packages for free. 2. Spend quality time with our changemaker community Community Development The MTC team has always been thankful for the opportunities and platforms given for us to grow. Last year witnessed robust development as we took on more projects, workshops, programmes and courses for schools and social service organisations. In addition, talks were peppered throughout the year to gather passionate minds, challenge the status quo and inspire change. Maintaining a few of our existing collaborations, we want to spend some quality time with our friends who have supported us all these while. Bringing our family forward together, we will be taking on a few more projects in 2018 with the plan of building an eventual, sustainable ecosystem for good. 3. Be the bridge connecting social service organisations to the marketplace Corporate Social Responsibility The traditional lines separating business, government and the civil society have been smudging over the years, and more are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of partnerships and cross-sectoral collaboration. Social enterprises land on this exciting space; there is so much potential when we connect the right people to the right place at the right time. In 2018, we see ourselves as a bridge to bring the social service sector closer to the marketplace. Be it through our DFG marketplace, where we function as a business solution to develop quality products and services for social service organisations, or our CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects that aspire to create an MTC chapter in every corporate setting, we see so much potential in connecting and facilitating these conversations. All in all, our new year resolutions resonate with growing wisely. We are excited to see how our year will unfold as we continue to use what is in our hands to help others, celebrate our community and reach out to new partners.

Rolling into the first few weeks of 2018, those of us at DFG sat down to take a look at how 2017 has been for us. 2017 has truly been an amazing and special year for Design For Good. Kickstarting our marketplace in May, we came a long way in showcasing what collaboration looks like between artists, designers and communities-in-need. Starting from scratch, we experienced many humbling breakthroughs and incredible growth spurts. Here are our 7 most precious: 1. We built relationships People matter the most to us. Throughout the year, we have had the opportunity to work with the passionate team of Solutions To End Poverty (STEP) to understand the context of SMILE Village in Phnom Penh. A well thought-out venture, community-mapping was one of the primary tools used to design their living space, meeting the needs of each household. During our trip there, the DFG team also got the chance to meet up with the friendly Krafters and see how we can leverage on their skills in sewing, rug-braiding and wood-crafting to create a sustainable business model. Following that, we maintained close contact with the team in Phnom Penh to further develop products and ideas from Singapore while sharing information, challenges, improvements and updates with each other regularly. 2. We told our story After knowing more about them, we used the captured footage from the trip to draft out their story. We thought about how DFG can play a role in lifting them up. Exploring different channels and strategies, we tried out several channels to get the Krafters’ story out. We filmed videos, each focusing on differing aspects such as the rug-making process, life in SMILE Village and aspirations behind the Krafters’ perseverance. One challenge we had was the translation from Khmer to English, as we sought help to express the Krafters’ feelings in the most accurate way possible. Setting up our website, www.designforgood.sg, the DFG team went on further to design the user interface that best displays the Krafters’ products and profiles. Consistent is key in storytelling, so we make it a point to post regularly on our blog, Instagram and Facebook for engagement as well. 3. We developed product ideas Product ideation was one of the most precious journeys to us. Be it the shade of colour on the rug or the sourcing of raw materials in the local Cambodian market, there are many details to note, experiment and discuss on. As our rugs are mostly made from the excess fabrics in manufacturing factories, the texture, material and colour of the fabrics are usually predetermined. The Krafters accepted the challenge to use what they can find to produce quality rugs and coasters. The product cycle doesn’t just end here. We followed up with our customers after their purchase to find out about their user experiences. Was the material and size good for everyday use? Would tote bag users find the length of the straps comfortable? From there, we noted on several details to improve on our next batch of products. For one, our newest tote bags feature pockets on the front, an additional feature included after getting sentiments from the ground. Of course, it is important for us to take the time to check on the responses that are less than positive. Once, a laptop sleeve had a faulty zip even before our customer used it. We sincerely apologised for our negligence and provided a 1-for-1 item exchange for the customer. This incident has reminded the team to be (1) mindful of the product checking and (2) facilitate prompt and accountable responses for our customers. 4. We explored packaging options Packaging design has been yet another major breakthrough for us as well. It is no easy task to look for packaging that (1) creates little waste, (2) has a style complementary to our brand and (3) is within our shoestring budget at the same time. Due to our relatively diverse range of products in our first collection (think wooden handphone stands and huge, 80cm-wide circular rugs), we sought to have a consistent label that represented Design For Good. Recycling the commonplace charkwayteow wrapping paper, we printed our product description and included a tag of the Krafters’ story. To us, the final packaging was crucial as it embedded our appreciation for the customer who believed in DFG’s model for sustainable good. Especially during Christmas, we included a free gift card for customers to write in their notes for their loved ones. 5. We held booths Externally, the Design For Good team has also been actively setting up booths at shopping malls and schools to showcase our products and story. In the 7 months since our inception, we have set up a total of 9 booths across Singapore. It heartens our hearts to receive encouraging words from people who saw the gold in what we do. Moreover, it is also humbling to see how we are part of a larger community that is striving to rise by lifting others up as well. Furthermore, DFG also started her first showroom to invite and welcome people to stand with us. The room is designed with a few main highlights, with one of them being a simple showcase of the Krafters’ rug design improving in colour combinations, material choice and braiding skills as the months go by. Often, we would let our Krafters know of the feedback and support that we have been getting to encourage them in their own journey. 6. We shared on why we do what we do Other than booths, we have also been involved in events for publicity as well. Ultimately, Design For Good is purposed to be a business solution to help alleviate poverty in the mind, heart and hands. By helping to leverage on the talents and skills that communities-in-need have, we can celebrate all abilities and grow them into sustainable businesses of their own. More often than not, these changes start from a simple mindset change. By choosing to sieve out the gold in every situation, using frameworks such as the asset-based community development model, social businesses can have their niche and competitive advantage in the marketplace too. Moving forward, we would love to work with other social service organisations who are looking to transforming receivers into givers. 7. We made new friends Last but not the least, we have made many new friends within the short time frame. The DFG team is truly thankful to have met several individuals who have supported us in ways more than one. Be it volunteering or helping us to advocate our cause, our friends have been a pillar of strength for us this season. We look forward to walking the journey together with them in 2018, and we are excited to new doors, roads, rivers and ways that will open for us in the new year. :)

Eight months into our journey with the Krafters’, Design For Good (DFG) has been constantly looking for better ways to understand the ground, improve and strengthen the collaboration. Seeing how the Krafters is developing their existing skills into sustainable businesses, the DFG team in Singapore is heartened to strive on further in the future. Moving forward, our marketplace is looking to welcome more local partners on board to expand on our capacity to design, for good. Showcasing how collaboration can be meaningful between artists, designers and communities-in-need, our heart has always been to alleviate poverty in three areas: the heart, mind and hands. Transforming the receiver into the giver, here are 3 things communities-in-need can expect when they work with us: 1. Community of passionate designers Leveraging on Make The Change (MTC)’s existing network of industry practitioners, students, volunteers and lecturers in the design industry, our DFG partner can receive valuable insights on storytelling, marketing and product visuals. What are the existing talents of the beneficiary? What raises the perceived value of his/her product? Where can we improve on product quality for the end user? How can we best tell the story in the most impactful, respectful and meaningful way? These are the challenges that our DFG community want to take on, to help social service organisations such as charities add a competitive edge to their products in the marketplace. 2. Commitment to grow together Design for Good is designed with a purpose. Both financial and social goals are embedded into our short and long term plans, and we are committed to grow with our partners throughout the journey. As we all know, growth usually happens outside the comfort zone and we are constantly preparing ourselves to go beyond the parameters for change. By putting our heads and hearts together, we work on facilitating opportunities to bring the people we know, the ideas we are inspired by and the passion within us to encourage our partners to continue fighting the good fight. 3. Transparency and accountability In most, if not all cases, trust is the lifeblood of an organisation or partnership. On a business-to-business (b2b) level, Design For Good helps to craft out effective business solutions for communities-in-need. Believing that we exist to exit, we look forward to seeing our partners stepping up to own the entire project at the end of the day. It is then when we can exit to help other organisations with their problems. With a transparent profit-sharing model, we are accountable to nurture and develop ideas in the initial and executional stages, and strive to see the project bloom in sustainability. One by one, we can connect and bridge existing projects in the social service sector together to foster an ecosystem to design, for good.

Since its inception earlier this May, Design For Good (DFG) has been intensively improvising on its first collection with the Krafters’. An exciting and ambitious venture, the Krafters’ feature a group of 20 Smile Village residents who used to be slum-dwellers who scavenged litter for a living. Coming in as a platform, Design For Good strives to help them develop existing skills into sustainable businesses of their own. Here are 3 key insights we’ve learnt in our journey of ideating, designing, sourcing and experimenting to develop the extensive product range that we have today. Listen to your community-in-need DFG exists to transform the receivers into givers. As our focus is set on helping these individuals to grow their skills into sustainable businesses, it is natural for us to prioritise their needs, skills and context into the process of product development. Throughout these 7 months, our team went to understand the Krafters’ story, talents, skills and lifestyle. The machines that they use, the marketplaces where they bought the raw materials and their typical day at work matter in the process of developing products that they are able and willing to make. A few of our products were first ideated by the Krafters themselves, like the powerhouse weekday totes. While we were at the village, we suggested producing the thick totes together with the thinner versions that have been popular with students in Singapore. Listen to your customer This can never get over-emphasised. The art of listening is arguably the most crucial in understanding how your product will fit into the market. With numerous brands fighting against shortening attention spans, a great product will find its way to be an integral part of people’s lives. For us, the rugs featured in our Christmas collection were weaved thinner and larger after feedback from our loyal supporters. What are some of the existing gaps or sentiments in the market? How is the consumer behaviour like? What are the things that our products can better than everyone else? When does the user experience begin and end? Other than the planning, we also keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to receive feedback from our existing customers. What are some of their concerns after purchasing our products? How can we show our appreciation for their support and make helping the communities a collaborative effort? Listen to your team Other than facilitating communication between the customers and community-in-need, it is also essential for us to take the time and listen to our own team. As what many HR experts opine, it is important to assemble a good mix of team members to create an innovative group of problem-solvers. The diversity of thought helps stem a variety of approaches and chemistry to an issue at hand, fostering a conducive environment that is forward-looking and nimble. The other consideration is third party-integration: how can we become the platform that our partners can benefit from? What’s in it for them, and how can we make collaboration easy? Great listeners produce great products All in all, the marketplace calls for more listeners than speakers today. Contrary to first impressions, product development is a precious journey that requires soft skills to make the right changes at the right time. The facilitation of deep, meaningful and consistent engagement between the teams will help create convenience and trust for existing and future customers.

Now that we are reaching the edge of 2017, the very last page is just about to be turned over for a brand new year. More often than not, we can only see how much we have grown when we take the time to breathe, rest and look back. The past 11 months have been bustling for us at Make The Change (MTC) as community development took on a major role in driving the change that we do. On top of providing creative services and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, MTC has been focusing on the chemistry forged through projects, events and programmes held in the community to share, grow and journey with our partners. What has 2017 been like for the MTC family? 2017 looked a lot like collaboration and a rhythmic exchange of ideas as we built on genuine, existing relationships and reached out to establish new, exciting ones. Here are some of the noteworthy highlights, in no particular order, within the MTC community in 2017: 1. Our signature programme is the main course This year, we facilitated social entrepreneurship programmes to students from Yuying Secondary School and Pioneer Junior College. With the opportunity to test out their business ideas and contribute tangibly to social causes, the students became social entrepreneurs in their own right. Beyond schools, we also crafted special introductory workshops, Social Entrepreneurship 101, for the public to join us. 2. DFG’s more-than-a-poster youth competition Because its whole purpose is more than the poster itself. This year, we collaborated with Disabled People’s Association (DPA) to encourage young minds to design and speak up for persons with disabilities. It was awesome to have received entries that addressed a spectrum of different special needs from physical (eg. lift access for wheelchair-bound) to societal (eg. employing persons with disabilities) aspects. 3. Our interestingly lovable interns How can we forget our interns? 2017 was a year that welcomed young interns from Raffles Girls’ School and ZhengHua Secondary School. We hope their time here has been a great one as they experience and learn something new beyond the classrooms. Spearheading with raiSE for the Young Talent Programme, we also opened our arms to interns from NUS and SMU. It was a highly rewarding experience for us as we went the team over to Cambodia for the first collaboration under Design For Good (see point 7). 4. Paving the designer’s way in disability Disability is more common than we know. Much of the social stigma today can be attributed to societal perceptions. For example, being short-sighted is a disability that has been compensated by the proliferation of trendy glasses. Today, glasses are seen to be more of an accessory than an assistive tool. Following this rhetoric, we believe that what the person with disability needs to carve out his/her future today is a better chisel. We offered courses in Essential Communications, Digital Marketing , Website Design and E-commerce. 5. The potluck party for social good Festival For Good was a great event for us to meet up with our fellow social entrepreneurs and witness how the landscape has been growing and changing. We got to check out many interesting ideas that embedded both goals of social and financial sustainability. Lastly, we also got to see how our students eagerly share on their own products as the last leg of the hands-on experience as a social entrepreneur. 6. Sharing what it means to communicate Social Media For Good was a series of meaningful discussions with youths. Held at various venues, the sessions dug deeper to explore the meaning of communication and how to build up your own voice on social media. Powered by NYC, we had fun seeing how participants took part in the activities and applied the concepts on their own profiles. 7. Our ambitious venture into Cambodia for good Armed with a start-up mentality, we sent our team of interns to begin from ground zero. Using Design For Good as a marketplace to showcase collaboration between artists, designers and communities-in-need, they created numerous visuals, marketing campaigns, product development and handled the logistics from scratch within the short span of three months. Continuing that, DFG worked on storytelling and expanding the capacity of the platform. Our Krafters have also grown alongside us, particularly in skills of product development and marketing. What does 2018 look like for us? We are really thankful for the opportunities given to us this past year. Moving forward, we see ourselves taking on more projects that connects different sectors together to take the chance and make the change. Collaboration still remains as our priority as aligned social goals scale to sustain social value and touch lives. If you or your organisation feels for what we do, we would love to meet up. Just drop us a mail at http://www.makethechange.sg/contact or leave us a text on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MakethechangeSG/ ;)

The DFG team is really happy to announce our partnership with Singapore’s circular events platform, X-hebit! As a platform to help source for eco-friendly venues and other event essentials, X-hebit is an open, responsible and convenient one-stop channel that gathers all these resources into one place. Looking at the bigger picture, event management has always been an area with immense potential to reach deeper into the roots of environmental consciousness. Often, many of these events take up a lot of resources only to be used once or twice. This results in high and sometimes, unnecessary costs on the organisers. So where does Design For Good come in? Sustainability calls for the culture of mainstream door gifting to change, with more environmentally options mushrooming across the landscape as potential alternatives. Here are DFG's top 3 ecogifts: Braided by hand, our assorted rugs are made from excess fabrics sold by huge manufacturing factories. By weaving new life into unwanted fabrics, these lovely rugs are interesting conversation starters that complete the look of any well-lived space. On the other hand, their smaller counterparts take up the spotlight on dining tables, coffee tables and kitchen counters alike. Not only are our assorted coasters up-cycled, they also come in two reversible sides. Washable and child-friendly, they can be reused as well. Lastly, our handphone stands are the newest addition this Christmas. Crafted from quality pine pallets, these handphone stands are up-cycled to hold your gaze through your favourite television series. With these three products launching on X-hebit, we are super hyped to be part of the shift towards a more environmentally-concious culture in event management locally. For more details, check out the platform at http://www.xhebit.com

The last leg of MTC’s Design For Good Youth Competition comprised of a special mentorship week at Make The Change. The finalists of the competition were invited from Pasir Ris Secondary School and Serangoon Garden Secondary School to join the MTC crew for a full, 5-day programme. Crafted for the secondary three students to learn more about design and social entrepreneurship from industry experts, the finalists gained from both sides of the coin last week. On one hand, they went through insightful lessons on how to further develop their artistic abilities while expanding their horizons on social entrepreneurship at the same time. What does it mean to design, for good? Here’s a glimpse of what it’s like to kill two birds with one stone at DFG’s Mentorship Week: To Design: essential tips on visual literacy On one hand, the mentorship week opened a door for the promising talents to further develop their aesthetic sensitivity. MTC invited a seasoned and esteemed lecturer, Mr Kenji Choo, to elaborate on what it really means to be visually literate. One of DFG’s finalists, Sherine, mentioned that the course content was helpful in showing them how they can further improve on their shortlisted works. Mr Kenji touched on varying visual elements such as typefaces, shapes and colours. Interestingly, each and every one of them carry a distinct meaning and evoke specific emotions. An effective visual storyteller will have to understand what these elements stand for and arrange them into melodic pieces of work. These pointers on composition can be translated to help the finalists in their final examination as well, as all of them have taken Art as a school subject. For good: experiential learning with MTC’s partners Besides developing a keener sense of design, the finalists are also invited to pay a visit to two of MTC’s partners. One of them was MDAS (Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore) while the other was St Luke’s Eldercare. Another finalist, Evelyn, recounted that the group activity at St Luke’s Eldercare was the most memorable for her, as the team built a periscope together with the elderly. On the other hand, Ashley felt that conversation she had with an 18-year-old girl from MDAS was her key takeaway. There is a general consensus amongst the finalists that they would love to experience more of such trips in the future. Combining the two to design for good Our last finalist, Hui Qi, also mentioned that the DFG mentorship week was an unique experience for her, citing the social entrepreneurship project ongoing at St Luke’s Eldercare was highly similar to what she wanted to do in the future. We wish her all the best ;) With this, MTC’s mentorship week has ended on a beautiful note for 2017. We hope that this mentorship week has been a meaningful one and we would like to wish our finalists and all the secondary school students a happy holiday!