Catalyst Case Study Program

Ravi Sawhney, IDSA, founder and CEO of RKS Designs, is one of the initiators of the Catalyst and serves as the executive director of the program. Changed from a traditional application-based competition in 2008, Catalyst is now simply an imperative to find and tell the most meaningful design success (and failure) stories.

"The Catalyst is our way of showing how the industrial design community provides valuable contributions to business," he says, "through our ability to connect with consumers. While our designs make those highly sought-after connections with the consumer, we build company performance, jobs, social contributions and meaningful brands. This is our opportunity to celebrate the best stories that illustrate the 'Return on the Design Investment' and design ourselves into positions of strategic value."

RKS is working with IDSA on a pro bono basis to guide the evolution of the Catalyst. The new Catalyst website and logo were both designed by RKS.