FAD (Fostering Arts and Design), a century-old institution devoted to the promotion and improvement of all strands of design, and Applus+, one of the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification companies, yesterday signed an agreement to launch the FAD Certification of Design Quality for hotel establishments. Juan Sendín, Managing Director of Applus+ Certification, and Miquel Espinet, President of FAD, were there to seal the deal.
The new FAD Certification of Design Quality aims to promote design as a medium through which to enhance the surroundings and quality of life within hotel establishments. FAD is issuing this award in collaboration with Applus+ to businesses in the hotel trade that demonstrate particular excellence in design techniques and display an exceptional skill for interior design and graphic design in their establishments.
FAD and Applus+ have committed to offering all the necessary support, throughout the certification process, to hotel establishments interested in working towards certification. This support will be provided in the form of advice from Applus+ experts and FAD professionals and designers, with the ultimate goal of helping the hotels to improve quality in all fields of design and, therefore, strengthen their customer focus. Once an establishment has achieved the FAD Certification of Design Quality, Applus+ auditors will ensure that the standard is maintained over time.
The FAD Certification of Design Quality is the first certification scheme of this type in the world. FAD and Applus+ are both of the view that such certification is necessary in order to propel the hotel industry forward in this advanced market.
Improved design, improved competitiveness
The quality of a hotel has been shown to be directly linked to the level care and attention devoted to the design of its spaces and products. In addition, there is a direct correlation between improvements in design and a hotel’s enhanced competitiveness and its internal innovation and renovation processes.
In Barcelona and Catalonia as a whole, where design is not simply a mark of individual quality but a template for the whole of business and society (and also, historically, industry and architecture), design processes have begun to be incorporated into all companies’ business strategies as a critical mechanism for adding value to products.
Thanks to the FAD Certification of Design Quality, we can now ensure that this design is of high enough quality for us to continue leading the field in one of Spain’s most promising industries: tourism.
What is good design?
In spite of the aesthetic values generally associated with it, design is not a synonym for beauty. Neither does it necessarily have anything to do with price or outlandishness. On the contrary, design is a method of working (a technique) that permits us to arrive at the most appropriate solution to an identified problem or need.
It is a technique that should be invested with a series of values, such as professionalism and a social and environmental conscience, all of which are taken into account during the FAD Certification of Design Quality process. The scheme looks at, among other things, functionality, personality, how well adapted the design is to its target group, overall coherence, innovation and sustainability.
Applus+, a global testing, inspection and certification company
Applus+ is one of the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification companies. It provides solutions to clients in all sectors, helping them to ensure that their assets and products comply with the requisite health, safety, quality and environmental standards. The company, which employs some 18,000 people, is led by Fernando Basabe, CEO, and Joaquim Coello, President. Applus+, a member of The Carlyle Group since 2007, operates in six continents and more than 60 countries.
FAD – Fostering Arts and Design
FAD is a private, independent, not-for-profit association that was first established in 1903. Its objective is to promote good design and architecture across Spain’s social, cultural and economic spheres. It encompasses five professional associations covering the various design disciplines: ADI-FAD (industrial design), ADG-FAD (graphic design and visual communications), ARQUIN-FAD (architecture and interior design), A-FAD (art and crafts), and MODA-FAD (image and fashion).