디자인 창업가의 실패 요인 분석을 위한 질적연구 - Giorgi의 연구방법을 중심으로 -

Background In light of the significant rate of business closures in Korea, numerous scholars have underscored the value of deriving insights from the failures of entrepreneurs. However, there is a paucity of research that analyses the failure experiences of design entrepreneurs and examines their meaning. The present study therefore undertook a qualitative investigation with the objective of comprehensively analysing the failure experiences of design entrepreneurs who had previously encountered failure, with a view to examining the factors and meanings of failure. Methods This study applied Giorgi phenomenological research method to design entrepreneurs who had experienced failure to explore their subjective experiences in depth. The qualitative data were analyzed using the software MAXQDA, following Giorgi’s four-step data analysis procedure to identify both individual and shared failure factors among the research participants. Result This study analyzed the characteristics and meanings of design entrepreneurs' failure experiences. As a result of the data analysis, 11 subcomponents and 5 components were derived: Lack of design capability (insufficient design competitiveness, inadequate product competitiveness, limited market research); Failure of start-up strategy (failure to build a business model, lack of initial funding); Failure of management operations (inability to attract investment, failure to manage funds, insufficient networking, failure of promotion strategy); Lack of entrepreneurship (lack of problem-solving skills, failure of self-management, lack of leadership); and Failure to respond to external environmental changes (environmental changes and policy issues, excessive competition). Conclusion The failure of design start-ups is not caused by a single factor, but rather by the complex interaction of internal and external factors. This study provides insights into the difficulties and challenges that prospective design entrepreneurs may encounter, helping them better prepare for their entrepreneurial journey. In particular, it can help reduce the fear of failure in starting a new venture. Furthermore, the findings can serve as a foundation for policy and strategic recommendations to revitalize design entrepreneurship.