PUNTO. DESIGN TRAINING CENTER FOR SMALL-SIZED BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION

Abstract

Proposed is a thesis project to develop and plan aspects of punto.: a design training center geared to advising start-up and small businesses in the Central American region. The center will have a mission of: (a) directly engaging with small firms to develop and market attractive, higher value offerings to targeted local, regional and international markets; and (b) establishing a network community for training and collaboration among such small businesses, their industry partners, exporters and investors. Relevant literature is presented. Models for punto.'s training workshops are sketched out as the starting method for implementation of the project, in order to test the efficacy of design thinking principles to promote small business innovation and collaboration.