This research study entitled “Matching the Skills, Knowledge and Capabilities of Designers to the Expectations and Requirements of Employers"  was jointly conducted by the Department of Management & Marketing and the School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University with funding support from the DesignSmart Initiative, Innovation and Technology Commission. The objectives of the research were to:

1. Identify and analyze the discrepancy between demand for and supply of manpower in the design industry;
   
2. Understand the needs and wishes of design professionals and their employers;
   
3. Learn about needs for career development and training for the design profession; and
   
4. Understand the situation regarding the use of and the need for design services in the Pearl River Delta region.