The role of design management in creation of sustainable business models

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation represents an important contribution to circular economy (CE). In recent months, these goals have been modified given the significant changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows increasing interests in revealing the efficiency of design in order to pursue new business models as sources of innovation that can contribute to SDGs. Nevertheless, the realization of SDGs is not easy on the level of enterprises and regions. Here, our research goal was to describe the role of design in business model re-design for SDGs implementation. It was presumed that during the pandemic, entrepreneurs significantly modified business models, emphasizing aspects of sustainable development. In order to verify this assumption, desk research was combined with qualitative research. Data were gathered from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and experts. The research raises the point of the underestimated role of design as a determinant of new business models composition connected with the SDGs. As a result, it was found that once applied, design becomes an important tool for sustainable innovation and enable strategic change in companies. Design supports SMEs in business models’ transition towards sustainable, circular performance. In conclusion, it was found that while adjusting business models in a pandemic, entrepreneurs paid more attention to issues related to SDGs.