Centro Brasil Design

What Centro Brasil Design does

Centro Brasil Design (CBD) is a private non-profit design promotion institution headquartered in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, operating under OSCIP (Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público) status. Founded in 1999 as an independent entity spun out from its 1997 origins within Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar), the organization functions as Brazil's official representative for the iF Design Award (since 2009) and as the creator and operator of the proprietary Design for a Better World Award (DFBW Award) launched in 2021 and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. CBD serves four primary constituencies: Brazilian companies and manufacturers seeking design integration for competitiveness, individual design professionals and students, government and public institutions developing creative economy policy, and educational institutions conducting design research.

The organization's product surface spans three revenue streams: award management (DFBW Award registration fees with batched pricing and student discounts; iF Award Phase 1 fees ranging from EUR 250 early-bird to EUR 450 final, plus Phase 2 and winner fees), educational programs and workshops (e.g., the 8-hour 'Briefing: a alma do negócio' course priced at R$360), and design consultancy services to enterprises. Proprietary intellectual property includes the Canvas Gestão do Design, a downloadable PDF tool developed as part of the 'Design na Prática' methodology. The underlying technology stack is not software-based; CBD operates as a human-curated facilitation institution rather than a technology company.

CBD's go-to-market combines sales-led direct engagement (consultancy contracts, workshop enrollment, Design Export program with Apex-Brasil) with event-driven activation (iF Award ceremonies in Berlin, DFBW Award live broadcasts on YouTube, Smart City Expo Curitiba, UNESCO forums, Brunel Design School events). The organization has served over 5,700 companies cumulatively since 1999, conducted more than 500 lectures and workshops, and runs 20+ innovation programs including Design Export, Paraná Inovador pelo Design, and CEEG: Observatório de Cidades Sustentáveis. No revenue, headcount, or funding data is disclosed, consistent with its non-profit status; CBD has no parent company, no external investors, and no identified equity transactions.

Name

Centro Brasil Design

Legal name

Centro Brasil Design

Website

https://cbd.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro Brasil Design is a Curitiba-based non-profit design promotion institution and the official Brazilian representative of the iF Design Award since 2009. It operates the Design for a Better World Award, provides design consultancy and workshops, and connects Brazilian companies, government, and designers to international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design Promotion and Consultancy Services

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Industrial Design Services (541420), Graphic Design Services (541430), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Design promotion services
• Design consultancy
• Design awards management
• Design education programs
• International design representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Curitiba

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design Awards Management: CBD organizes and manages the Design for a Better World Award, accepting project entries and coordinating jury processes for recognizing sustainable design projects aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Educational Programs and Workshops: CBD conducts workshops, courses, and training sessions on design management, briefing processes, and design strategy. Courses like 'Briefing: a alma do negócio' are offered for R$ 360 with 8-hour duration.
3. Consultancy Services: CBD provides design consultancy services to companies, helping integrate design thinking into business strategy, product development, and innovation processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Centro Brasil Design (CBD) is a non-profit design promotion institution that connects Brazilian companies, government entities, and creative professionals through design consultancy, training, events, programs, and awards. It is the official Brazilian representative of the iF Design Award since 2009 and the creator/organizer of the Design for a Better World Award (DFBW), which recognizes sustainable design projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Core deliverables include consultancy services, workshops and courses (such as the "Briefing: a alma do negócio" course), the Design Export internationalization program, and the proprietary "Design na Prática" methodology with the Canvas Gestão do Design tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Design for a Better World Award (DFBW Award): Award program launched in 2021 to identify, unite, and reward transformative ideas with positive impact aligned with SDGs and ESG practices.
• Design Export
• iF Representative Office

Products and services

• Design for a Better World Award (DFBW Award) Annual award program recognizing sustainable design projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals; open to Brazilian and international entries, with a jury process and tiered registration fees (early-bird, regular, final) plus a student discount category.
• iF Representative Office (iF Design Award Representation) Official Brazilian representative service for the iF Design Award, facilitating project submissions, providing award information, and supporting Brazilian participants throughout the international iF jury process (Phase 1 Online Jury fees, Phase 2 Finalist fees, and Winner fees as published by iF).
• Design Export Program Program that helps Brazilian companies develop export-ready design products and services, connecting them to international markets through design support and export facilitation in partnership with Apex-Brasil.
• Design Consultancy Services (Gest\u00e3o de Projetos de Design) Design consultancy service for Brazilian companies, integrating design strategy, product development, and innovation into business operations through the proprietary Design na Pr\u00e1tica methodology.
• Briefing: a alma do neg\u00f3cio (Course) Training course covering briefing methodology for design projects, taught by CBD's Technical Director Ana Brum. An 8-hour, two-day program priced at R$ 360.00 including digital materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,700 companies served since 1999
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• UNESCO (Creative Cities Network)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CBD participated in II Forum Cidades Criativas (Creative Cities Forum) organized by UNESCO, with CBD's Technical Director Ana Brum serving on the UNESCO Seal Management Committee. CBD contributes to Creative Cities agenda, particularly for Curitiba (UNESCO Creative City of Design since 2014) and Fortaleza.
• Brunel University LondonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CBD participated in 40 Years of Global Design Education and Research celebration at Brunel Design School. Director Letícia Castro presented DFBW Award. Event part of UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025/2026.
• Fundación VeredictasminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026CBD is official partner for LATIDEA Award, offering 10% discount to participants who select CBD as partner organization. Fundación Veredictas donates 10% of registration fees to CBD.
• ABRE (Associação Brasileira de Embalagem)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for webinars on packaging innovations, such as 'Inovações em Embalagem no Brasil e no Mundo' webinar with ABRE Executive Director Luciana Pellegrino.
• BRDE (Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022BRDE's Espaço Cultural BRDE - Palacete dos Leões hosted DFBW Award 2022 ceremony. BRDE is a development bank focused on sustainable development, aligning with CBD's mission.
• Global Industry Design Organization (GDIO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CBD serves as Vice President of GDIO, an international design industry organization, strengthening its global positioning.
• Curitiba City Government - Committee for UNESCO Creative City DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CBD is part of the UNESCO Creative City of Design Management Committee, contributing to innovation planning for design in Curitiba. Partner institutions include 15 organizations: Prefeitura de Curitiba, ACD, FCC, IMT, Ippuc, Vale do Pinhão, SEBRAE/PR, PUC-PR, UFPR, Unicuritiba, UP, UTFPR, Prodesign>PR.
• United Nations Global CompactflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CBD was the first Brazilian design institution to join the UN Global Compact in 2018, aligning all activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• iF International Forum Design GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2009CBD is the official Brazilian representative for iF Design Award since 2009, facilitating Brazilian submissions, providing information, and supporting participants throughout the award process. This is a core partnership that defines CBD's international positioning.
• Apex-BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Design Export program, helping Brazilian companies access international markets through design support and export facilitation.
• SEBRAE/PR (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Design Innovation Plans, including the Plano de Inovação para o Design Industrial de Curitiba, developed with support from SEBRAE/PR.
• World Packaging Organization (WPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through ABRE leadership, as ABRE's Executive Director also serves as WPO President.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• D&AD: UK-based design and advertising awards body running the annual D&AD Pencils alongside professional development and education. Comparable to CBD's blend of design recognition, education, and industry convening, with similar non-profit heritage.
• World Design Organization (WDO): International non-profit that promotes industrial design and hosts the World Design Summit and World Design Capital program. CBD's Vice Presidency in its industry-focused spinoff (GDIO) directly connects the two organizations.
• AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts): US professional design association promoting design practice, education, and recognition since 1914. Directly comparable as a non-profit design membership body that runs awards, education programs, and policy advocacy for the design profession.
• IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America): US professional association for industrial design running the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). Comparable to CBD as a discipline-specific design body combining recognition, education, and advocacy.
• APD - Associação Portuguesa de Design: Portuguese design association promoting Portuguese design nationally and internationally through awards and exhibitions. Highly comparable to CBD as a Lusophone/European-adjacent design promotion body with similar scale and mission.
• Index: Design to Improve Life: Danish non-profit running the Index Award focused on design for sustainable impact. Directly comparable to CBD's Design for a Better World Award mission and SDG-aligned positioning, with similar non-profit, sustainability-focused model.
• ADI-FAD (Foment de les Arts i del Disseny): Barcelona-based design association promoting design culture, awards (Delta Awards), and Barcelona Design Week. Comparable as a regional design promotion body with awards, exhibitions, and educational programming.
• Design Council: UK design promotion body advocating design as a driver of economic and social value, with government, education, and corporate programs. Closely mirrors CBD's design-as-economic-development positioning, including public-sector design policy work.
• iF International Forum Design GmbH: German operator of the iF Design Award and CBD's core strategic partner since 2009. Runs the same model of global design recognition with annual jury cycles, multiple disciplines, and tiered entry/winner fees — making it the closest comparable peer.
• Red Dot Design (Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen): German institution running the Red Dot Award for product design, communication design, and design concept. Directly comparable to CBD/iF as an internationally recognized design awards body with ceremony events and design management consultancy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/centrobrasildesign
• Xx.com/centrobrdesign
• Facebookfacebook.com/centrobrdesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-brasil-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro Brasil Design