"Complex problems demand innovative solutions..."

David Kester, Design Council Chief Executive

In this section you can find out about the ways design is making a difference in all areas of the UK. You can also share your views on current design, business and policy issues.

The Design Council is working towards real change in the following areas:

Driving competitiveness in industry

Improving innovation in public services

Design skills development

Can design help in the fight against crime?

Stage: We're leading a £1.6million programme that will use design thinking to tackle crime in gadgets, places and spaces.
Addressing: Improving innovation in public services

Why is crime an issue for design?

Crime has fallen over the last decade but new crime challenges have emerged as society, and technology, have evolved.

Perspectives

Sebastian Conran

Designer and founder member of the Design and Technology Alliance

This major phase of our work clearly shows that the Home Office has great confidence in the potential of the Designing Out Crime approach. The Design and Technology Alliance is a unique collaboration of some of the most experienced and creative minds in the country, and I am looking forward to seeing major positive impacts as a result of our work over the next three years.

More perspectives and the chance to contribute

Can design help businesses survive today's tough economic climate?

Stage: The Design Council will soon publish case study evidence of how design has helped small businesses overcome tough market conditions
Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry

How have other SMEs succeeded when times are tough?

In the middle of a recession, SMEs need all the help they can get to survive the tough times. Design can help them take advantage of new market opportunities.

A local resident makes use of the public services available in her area

Can we create better public services using design?

Stage: We have prototyped some new ideas for public services
Addressing: Improving innovation in public services

Why are public services an issue for design?

How can we use design methods and processes to not only encourage innovation from suppliers, but innovation in services themselves?

How can design help deliver better health services?

Stage: The Design Council is demonstrating how design can help hospitals stay clean and individual people manage their own healthy active lifestyles
Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Improving innovation in public services

What can design do to help improve our nation's health?

Bad health is putting pressure on us and on our health system. We think that design can help find ways to motivate people to lead more active lifestyles and to manage their health more effectively.

Design for technology transfer

Stage: The Design Council has run a pilot scheme to help Technology Transfer Offices use design to commercialise technology
Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Design skills development

Why is technology transfer an interesting new market for UK designers?

The UK has a world class science and technology base. Results show we are getting better at commercialising research outputs from our universities but there is scope for further improvement. And design can help.

What stops small companies using design?

Stage: We have launched a programme called Designing Demand to help SMEs increase profit, sales and market share using design
Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Design skills development

How can design make sense for smaller businesses?

The share prices of design-led companies out-performed key FTSE indices by 200% over ten years, but SMEs don't always understand the value design can add to their business

This project is part of The Cox Review of Creativity in Business

What other issues are there?

Design student What skills do designers need in the 21st century?

What's the threat from emerging economies?

Why is everyone talking about the creative economy?

Designing more competitive science and innovation

School design Can design make schools more sustainable?

UK Innovation What makes the UK an innovation nation?

Can universities bring business studies and design closer together?