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Deborah Meaden celebrates innovative products at the Spark Showcase 2018

Deborah Meaden celebrates innovative products at the Spark Showcase 2018

26 July 2018

On Tuesday 26 June ​12 products​ were catapulted into the spotlight, and five were selected for additional funding. The Design Council Spark Showcase, presented by Deborah Meaden, was the culmination of 16 weeks of graft and...

New design talent – the economy needs you

New design talent – the economy needs you

25 July 2018

Research shows that people with design skills contribute more money in more sectors of the economy, than anyone ever realised. Design Council is committed to making sure that all industries can access the design talent they need....

The right design for productivity

The right design for productivity

23 July 2018

Since the financial crisis of 2007/08, productivity growth has been lower than expected in the UK. This ‘productivity puzzle’ has been a long-term issue for the UK economy. In 2016 output per hour worked was 16.3% below the...

Five things we learned at Design in the Public Sector

Five things we learned at Design in the Public Sector

23 July 2018

Ellen Care is a Transformation and Change Officer for the London Borough of Bexley. In early 2018 Bexley was one of 13 local authorities across England participating in our Design in the Public Sector programme. Bexley applied...

Elsie Owusu – Founding Chair of the Society of Black Architects

Elsie Owusu – Founding Chair of the Society of Black Architects

23 July 2018

Elsie is a specialist conservation architect, interior and urban designer, and founder of her own architects practice.  Waking up every morning within the masterplan of her favourite architect, John Nash, Elsie looks out the...

Our top picks from New Designers 2018

Our top picks from New Designers 2018

17 July 2018

We were excited to be invited back to take part in one of the most important design events in the UK – New Designers. Our panel this year chaired by Sarah Dawood, Deputy Editor of Design Week, led a discussion on the importance of...

Design makes a difference to public health with Design in the Public Sector

Design makes a difference to public health with Design in the Public Sector

15 July 2018

With the nation facing public health challenges of epidemic proportions, forward thinking local authorities are today invited to apply to the Design Council and the Local Government Association (LGA) Design in Public Sector progra...

Improving lives for those living with arthritis with Design Council Spark

Improving lives for those living with arthritis with Design Council Spark

13 July 2018

After another successful year for Design Council Spark we caught up with Kate Croxton, Head of Professional Engagement at our partners Arthritis Research UK, to find out more about the impact that Spark has had on their work so...

Down the rabbit hole: Transform Ageing’s journey into system change

Down the rabbit hole: Transform Ageing’s journey into system change

11 July 2018

Charlotte Burrows is Social Innovation Programme Manager at Design Council. Here, she discusses our Transform Ageing learning journey on system change.   Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the...

Looking back on last year's Design in the Public Sector programme

Looking back on last year's Design in the Public Sector programme

9 July 2018

From October 2017 to May 2018, thirteen local authorities across England took part in Design Council’s Design in the Public Sector programme funded by the Local Government Association. This past year saw diverse groups of local...

Design Council launches the Design Economy 2018 at Northern Powerhouse Summit

Design Council launches the Design Economy 2018 at Northern Powerhouse Summit

9 July 2018

At the Northern Powerhouse Summit on Thursday 5 July, Design Council CEO Sarah Weir launched our new Design Economy report alongside Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark.  Speaking to a...

The future is design

The future is design

28 June 2018

There is no doubt that the UK is in a period of economic and social change. We are transitioning from an economy powered by might and machine to one increasingly powered by services and technology. Productivity is stagnant....