"Learning from other people's experience is so important"

Deborah Dawton, Design Business Association

Do you want to learn more about how to grow your business? Maybe you need help finding funding for your business idea? Or perhaps you simply want to know what's happening in the world of design...

This section can point you in the right direction.

We hope to make our listings of design and business advice services, organisations, events and networks the most comprehensive on the web. So if you have an event that you want to tell us about, or you think your organisation could help businesses or designers in the UK, you can contact us here

Practical help for businesses

Find out about organisations around the country that offer practical help to you and your business.

ACID (Anti Copying in Design)

A membership trade organisation created to combat the threat of plagiarism in the design and creative industries.

Advantage Business Angels

Specialises in raising funds for early-stage business opportunities.

AME-UK

A non-profit organisation dedicated to acquiring and putting into practice knowledge on better approaches to manufacturing, with a focus on reducing costs and waste.

Practical help for designers

Find out about forthcoming programmes and courses around the country that are useful to you and your business.

[re]design

[re]design is an expansive online design network that also publishes books and hosts public exhibitions, workshops lectures and debates throughout the year.

ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art)

An educational charity which provides a range of public benefits through visual arts services.

Events and competitions

Search our listings of events to see what's going on in your area. We also list national and international design competitions.

17th International Conference of Engineering Design

ICED 09 will offer a point for exchanges between researchers and industrial partners on key questions concerning engineering design.

2008 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

The Adobe Design Achievement Awards celebrate student achievement - giving higher education students from around the world the opportunity to gain recognition on an international scale.

Blogs and networks

Looking for a networking event near you? How about a design blog? We have listings of events and blogs that enable businesses and designers to get togther.

AIGA

Ideas and information, critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice for the design professional.

The Designers Lunchbox

Otherwise known as Kaliber10000 (or K10k) this ezine allows interactive designers and artists to share their tools and ideas.

Organisations

Find out about organisations that are useful to you and your business, as well as museums, galleries and cultural organisations.

ACID

A membership trade organisation created to combat the threat of plagiarism in the design and creative industries.

Advantage West Midlands

The Regional Development Agency for the West Midlands.

Programmes and courses

Search our listings of training courses and business growth programmes.

Advanced Leadership in the Creative Industries

Six free places for senior design executives on an innovative pilot programme.

Centres of Industrial Collaboration

Helps local businesses gain the technical expertise and specialist resources needed to drive internal innovation forward.