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Black Lives Matter: personal statement from Sarah Weir OBE, Design Council’s Chief Executive

Black Lives Matter: personal statement from Sarah Weir OBE, Design Council’s Chief Executive

9 October 2020

We believe that design needs to reflect the diversity of the world it shapes. Our national, published research shows that many people working in the design economy do not sufficiently represent the people they are designing for. ...

Design Council receives £50,000 in National Lottery funding to support communities re-imagine a future against backdrop of COVID-19

Design Council receives £50,000 in National Lottery funding to support communities re-imagine a future against backdrop of COVID-19

1 October 2020

Design Council has received £50,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to build on and amplify the creativity and compassion seen in communities and across civil society during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The...

Design Council responds to Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan

Design Council responds to Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan

25 September 2020

On 24 September 2020, Chancellor Riski Sunak announced the next steps of the UK’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In response Design Council’s Chief Executive, Sarah Weir OBE, said: "Whilst we welcome additional...

Sarah Weir OBE to step down as Design Council Chief Executive

Sarah Weir OBE to step down as Design Council Chief Executive

17 September 2020

Sarah Weir OBE has announced that she will be stepping down as Chief Executive of Design Council after three and a half years at its helm, bringing to a close an illustrious career spanning 45 years. Her decision follows her...

ReDesign Business: bringing the design industry and business together

ReDesign Business: bringing the design industry and business together

3 September 2020

Launching at London Design Festival 2020, ReDesign Business is a pioneering digital programme exploring what design and business can learn from each other. 14–19 September 2020 This year’s London Design Festival is set to be...

How 'isolation art' brought people closer to the places they love

How 'isolation art' brought people closer to the places they love

12 August 2020

We have travelled over 173,000 miles, 134 days, 100 requests, over 20 countries (including the God’s own county of Yorkshire) and 72 cities. We’ve gone to 15 places of worship, 10 museums or galleries and 5 performance venues. I’...

Design in the Public Sector Programme 2020 - APPLICATIONS OPEN

Design in the Public Sector Programme 2020 - APPLICATIONS OPEN

10 August 2020

Local councils in England will be considering innovative new ways to address the climate crisis, thanks to the latest Design in the Public Sector programme – run by Design Council and the Local Government Association – which opens...

Design Council responds to proposed planning reforms

Design Council responds to proposed planning reforms

6 August 2020

The government has today announced a shake-up of a planning system to streamline processes, cut red tape and harness technology to deliver homes faster. Key elements of the reforms, outlined in the policy paper Planning For The...

What public engagement teaches us about housing design

What public engagement teaches us about housing design

3 August 2020

People want different things from their homes at different stages of their lives but some things are universal, writes our Chief Executive, Sarah Weir. When Design Council was set up in 1944, the plan was simple: invest in design...

Journal 11 on sustainable towns and cities

Journal 11 on sustainable towns and cities

27 July 2020

Welcome to Design Council’s journal. Today’s entry is on the physical and spatial characteristics of sustainable towns and cities and the transformation of Rainbow Park.   Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious...

International station design competition now open

International station design competition now open

16 July 2020

Design Council welcomes the launch of Network Rail’s and the RIBA’s international station design competition exploring the design of small to medium stations across the UK. The competition brief is informed by Design Council’s Thi...

CEO Blog: Design is vital. Our evidence tells us so.

CEO Blog: Design is vital. Our evidence tells us so.

15 July 2020

For many years, Design Council has championed the value of design, using evidence-based research to show its economic, social and environmental impact. Making life better by design: Design Council’s story of impact clearly shows...