Designer PR?

A little more than two years ago the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town, South Africa, decided to move its course on Public Relations Management from the Business Faculty to the Informatics and Design Faculty.  At this moment Students and lecturers alike, disapproved of the decision.

In theory, Public Relations Management can be viewed as a business element.  The definition of Public Relations as per the Public Relations Institute of South Africa (PRISA) states that public relations is the deliberate planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between the organisation and its publics, both internally and externally.

In practice I feel it’s a whole different story.  Do I see Public Relations as being a designer element, rather than a business element?  Yes.  Ofcourse there is business elements within Public Relations Management, but without creativity, attention to design detail and knowledge of the latest information technologies Public Relations Management might be a challenging venture.

What do Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, Chanel and Public Relations have in common?  It’s all “Designers” in their various trades.