Business essentials

RSS XML

Here you can find out more about the issues that are affecting your business and how design can help

Our world-class resource has in-depth information on design and business issues and opportunities, written by recognised experts.

Coca-Cola bottles, designed by Turner Duckworth

The power of branding: a practical guide

We have created this free guide to shed some light on the subject of branding; what it is, how it works and how you can use it to help improve your business.

 
A designer and client in conversation

Finding and working with a designer: a step-by-step guide

We have created this free guide to explain the process of finding and working with a designer – focusing on your needs and ensuring you get the most out of the project.

 
Surfing the internet using a mouse

Getting a great website: a step-by-step guide

We have created this free guide to explain how you can improve your business with a great website. Get advice on finding a web designer, working out what your business needs, deciding how your new website will work and keeping the project on time and on budget.

 

Training for designers

It's never been more important to develop your business skills. Our free training and development guide offers practical advice and information to designers at all stages of their careers. In it we take a look at how formal and informal training can help to develop the skills you need to become more profitable, more competitive and more capable. Find out more about: Why you should consider...

 
Scottevest jacket

Sustainability

Does the moral imperative for a more sustainable future get in the way of economic growth? Beatrice Otto explains how sustainable design can offer opportunities for business improvement without compromising our environment Design is crucial in moving us towards a more sustainable future. It can help us rethink how we deliver products and their benefits without decimating the world around us, or...

 
Palm V - design by IDEO

Innovation

Are you continuously challenging the status quo within your business? Bettina von Stamm reveals how successful companies commercially exploit ideas Innovation is what most companies rely on to fuel business growth. After all, in a competitive economic climate, can you really afford to rely on business as usual?

 
Toyota Aygo car

International markets

Increasing liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation is exposing UK companies to global competition on an unprecedented scale. Mark Delaney asks how design can be better used to improve export potential and meet rising customer expectations

 
Kunsthal in Rotterdam by architect Rem Koolhaas

Intellectual property

With more than 4 million patents in force worldwide, it’s not just global companies such as Sony and Nike that need to watch out for infringers and plagiarists. Legal expert Iain Stansfield explains how intellectual property law can help in the battle against the copycats High profile cases such as Apple vs. Apple Corps and Dyson vs. Hoover highlight just how valuable intellectual property can...

 
Structure of photonic crystals for integrated optics

Emerging technology

Almost everything that is designed is influenced by the latest developments in technology. Peter Davies investigates how designers react to emerging technologies and explains how they can be integrated into the design process to give products that essential competitive edge

 
Stack of Post-It notes

Invention

How can inventors protect their ideas and make them profitable? Just how does a novel idea become a new product or service? Graham Barker and Peter Bissell explain how to make this process easier, pointing out potential pitfalls and offering practical help. From the Post-it note to Trevor Baylis’s Clockwork radio, many best sellers would never have seen the light of day without the hard work and...