The Creative Economy (or orange economy) has many definitions.

We think of the creative economy as the intersection of innovation, creativity, design, stakeholder engagement, and markets. The impacts of strengthening creative industries are economic, social, cultural, and support wellbeing.

By using stakeholder-driven integrative design techniques, local designers and creatives can work with media, civil, educational, public, and private organizations (the quintuple helix) to stimulate locally-driven, locally-owned, and locally-branded workforces, social scenes, food cultures, creative industries, packaging design, and more.

The creative economy is $2 trillion in size, providing significant revenue for small businesses and employment opportunities, especially for women and youth. Creative Industries also account for nearly 50 million jobs worldwide, according to UN estimates. About half of these workers are women, and these industries employ more people aged 15-29 than any other sector. - IFC

Impact Areas

  • Economic Growth/ Market-Led Growth

  • Peacebuilding and Transition

  • Social Connection

  • Trade & Investment

  • Health/ Wellness

  • Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion

  • Digitalization

  • Localization

  • Innovation, Technology, and Research

Localized Development through Place-Making and Cultural Identity

Place-making and cultural vibrancy: Creative industries help define and promote the cultural identity of a region, fostering a sense of place that can drive tourism, attract talent, and boost local pride. Events, festivals, local art scenes, and fashion shows all contribute to revitalizing urban areas and promoting localized economic development.

Empowering communities: By reflecting local values and cultures, creative enterprises give communities the tools to narrate their own stories. This boosts social cohesion and makes development more sustainable by grounding it in local traditions and aspirations.

Creative Industries Are Inherently Human-Centered

Stakeholder engagement: Creative work often involves close collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including local artisans, small business owners, and community members. These industries inherently require a participatory approach to production, where collaboration fosters solutions tailored to specific community needs.

Human-centered design solutions: Creative industries prioritize human experiences, which are crucial for developing user-friendly products, services, and systems that meet people’s actual needs. This approach leads to solutions that are sustainable, accessible, and scalable in social impact projects, making it easier for other industries to adopt human-centered strategies.

Catalyzing Social Impact and Change

Cultural diplomacy and peacebuilding: Creative industries often play a role in peacebuilding, bridging divides between communities through shared cultural expressions, such as music, art, and storytelling. These industries can foster dialogue and understanding in post-conflict or diverse settings, driving social cohesion and community resilience.

Inclusive economic models: Creative industries provide opportunities for marginalized groups, such as women, youth, and indigenous communities, to participate in and benefit from economic development. This inclusivity makes them a powerful force for driving equitable social impact.

Multiplier Effect on Economic Growth

Job creation and value chains: Creative industries contribute significantly to job creation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They create jobs not just directly in the arts, design, and media, but also in supporting industries like logistics, manufacturing, and retail.

Economic diversification: Creative enterprises can lead to diversified economies that are less reliant on traditional industries such as agriculture or extractive industries. This makes economies more resilient to shocks, like natural disasters or commodity price fluctuations.

Global Demand for Cultural and Creative Products

Expanding global markets: There is increasing global demand for cultural goods and services, from fashion to digital content to artisanal crafts. This offers creative industries opportunities to scale globally while staying rooted in local identities, further driving localized development.

Soft power and international relations: Cultural products often serve as ambassadors for their regions. Countries that invest in their creative industries can leverage cultural exports to enhance their soft power, attract foreign investment, and promote tourism.

Sustainability and Ethical Consumption

Slow fashion, eco-design, and sustainability movements: Creative industries often lead the way in promoting ethical, sustainable production methods, such as slow fashion, eco-friendly design, and locally sourced materials. This emphasis on sustainability resonates with a growing global audience that seeks purpose-driven consumption, aligning with social impact goals.

Creative Industries Drive Innovation Across Sectors

Cross-sector influence: Creative industries like design, marketing, and media have a direct impact on other industries, including technology, manufacturing, tourism, and retail. For example, innovative design thinking can enhance product development in manufacturing, while compelling branding and storytelling can help the tourism industry flourish.

Cultural and creative assets are often what differentiate businesses and attract global markets, whether it's through architecture, advertising, or digital media. As a result, creative industries help stimulate demand, fuel competition, and push innovation across various sectors.