Articles
Search previous Design Council news and articles.
What turns a good idea into a great invention?
19 January 2015
We hosted a Google Hangout exploring what turns a good idea into a great invention. With contributions from some of the UK's most successful inventors, the panel discussion examined the issues of feasibility, viability and...
New government figures show UK has largest design sector in Europe
16 January 2015
January’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) results are fantastic news for the creative industries – and for design specifically. The high growth year on year proves once and for all that that the creative industries...
Video: How I created a successful brand – Rob Law of Trunki
9 January 2015
Rob Law is inventor of the Trunki, the original ride-on suitcase for 'globe-trotting tots'. Here he talks about the initial inspiration he had for the idea as well as the challenges he experienced, giving some vital advice to...
Sparking the next generation of product inventors
8 January 2015
Read Mat Hunter's inspirational keynote speech from the Spark launch event in November last year. The deadline for Spark applications was 31 January 2015. "This year, the Design Council celebrates 70 years of improving lives by...
Science and Innovation Strategy embraces design as key to growth
17 December 2014
Published today, the government's Science and Innovation Strategy sets out a clear ten year vision, recognising successful innovation requires design and placing renewed emphasis on the importance of cities to the UK’s science...
Video: How I launched Chillipeeps – Claire Mitchell
17 December 2014
Mum turned inventor Claire Mitchell founded the Chillipeeps adaptor after a Eureka moment on the way to a party with her baby daughter, Mimi. In this video, she talks to us about her journey from mum to entrepreneur - and...
Using design to improve policy
16 December 2014
A growing community of top civil servants and innovators in the UK are now using design to improve the process of policymaking. In November we brought together leading practitioners to launch Design for Policy and to explore...
Protecting your product idea: What I've learned
11 December 2014
After finding herself struggling with all the things she needed to carry around as a new mum, Emily Goodall developed the BundleBean. Embarking on a new journey as a product inventor and entrepreneur involved new learnings and...
Do your customers believe you?
11 December 2014
Designer Yasushi Kusume has helped lead design and brand management for the likes of Philips and Electrolux. He has also co-written Brand Romance, a guide to building a loved brand – here he shares his essential guide to making...
How to write a great application form
10 December 2014
Whether you’re applying for an accelerator programme like Design Council Spark, or entering your work into a design competition, mastering the art of writing a great application form is an essential skill to have. You might have...
Innovative codesign project reinvents the hospital waiting room
4 December 2014
On 4 December, Whittington Health’s new Ambulatory Care Centre opened. This innovative new space has been built within the walls of the Victorian hospital, and allows more patients to receive seamless, same-day acute treatment....
Autumn statement 2014: Our response
3 December 2014
In today’s autumn statement, the Chancellor touched upon a few issues that I wrote about at the beginning of the year, and a few that we have been commenting upon more recently, including science and innovation, cities and local...