The Directorate was established to support, develop and promote design practice and the profession in Kenya in the areas of Interior Design, Graphic Design and Product Design development.

As a leading national institution on matters design, the Directorate is formulating a national design policy to provide a framework that supports the industry in innovation and skills for socio-economic development. This policy is anchored on design-enabled innovative economy and aims to promote all forms of design as stated in Article 35 of the Kenyan constitution.  The technical officers of the directorate are part of the design documentation and supervisory teams involved in public building projects.

The Directorate plays a key role in the realization of the Government’s creative economy blueprint of 2022-2027 by supporting local SMEs in conceiving, designing and developing new products, materials or objects in the construction industry through among others works of art and furniture development.