Reports & Resources
Explore our work from previous projects.
Search our extensive back catalogue to learn more about what works in design, including emerging trends and practice, as well as policy position papers about how to increase its use.
Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum
1 March 2013
Aireborough comprises three townships and two hamlets in a district between Leeds, Bradford and the Yorkshire Dales, on the A65 corridor. With a population of around 28,000, it recently lost traditional manufacturing employment...
Balcombe Parish Council
1 March 2013
Balcombe is a small village with around 1,800 residents, set in the heart of the High Weald, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the south east of England. Whilst villagers work in traditional roles on the Balcombe Estate, in...
Our response to the Taylor review on planning practice guidance
2 February 2013
In response to Lord Taylor's review of planning practice guidance, we submitted evidence to the Department for Communities and Local Government, calling for the inclusion of specific design guidance. Our comments focussed on the...
Restarting Britain: design and public services
2 February 2013
Poorly designed services cost the UK a great deal. Restarting Britain 2 shows that the best of design thinking can help to make services more relevant to current needs and reduce cost. Over eight months the Design Commission...
State of Ambition
30 January 2013
One of three ventures supported through the Working Well Design Challenge, State of Ambition is a game-based website that helps young people become ambitious leaders, giving them the support network and purpose they need to...
Working Well Design Challenge publication
30 January 2013
The Working Well Design Challenge was an initiative run by the Design Council in partnership with Nominet Trust, sponsoring three teams to design and launch new digital products and services to help young people develop their...
Discoverables
30 January 2013
Discoverables, one of three ventures supported through the Working Well Design Challenge, is a website that helps young people find and develop their key skills and strengths and share them with potential employers. With record...
The Matter
30 January 2013
The Matter is a newspaper run, produced and published entirely by young people. Each edition is their public response to a question asked by the government or a business. With record numbers of 16–24 year olds not in education,...
Early years innovation research report
13 January 2013
This research report provides a summary of our desk research. We highlight and examine key themes around children in their early years (from pregnancy to five years) and signpost to further sources of information. The report is...
Design Review: Principles and Practice
8 January 2013
Design Review is a well-established way of improving the quality of design in the built environment, and it is now recognised in the National Planning Policy Framework. Read about the principles of Design Council's Design Review...
Lawrence Weston Estate
5 January 2013
Lawrence Weston is a post-war council housing estate in North West Bristol. It is bordered by Blaise Castle to the East and Avonmouth industrial complex to the west. Originally a hamlet, its current population stands at 6,500. The...
Design in neighbourhood planning
1 January 2013
All over the country community groups are taking the lead in shaping the future of their neighbourhood. The government, through the Localism Act and National Planning Policy Framework, has created new opportunities for local...