Impact Report: Chapter 2

Design Council knows that businesses that use design perform better than those that do not. For a resilient UK economy, we need businesses to use design to maximise their performance. This second chapter in our Making life better by design series reflects on how Design Council has helped a wide range of businesses and social enterprises at critical points.

It outlines key achievements including: how we have helped organisations to grow in the UK and international markets; enabled businesses to weather the 2008 recession; and supported and funded entrepreneurs to fast-track inclusive innovative products to market. In 2020 Design Council is embarking on a series of projects to test market demand for a new business offer. We want to support SMEs to be more resilient to the challenges they will have to face during the predicted recession, and also to use this opportunity to support more inclusive and sustainable practices.

In this chapter you will find information on:

• Designing Demand
• Design Economy (2018)
• Design Council Spark
• Innovate for Universities
• Transform Ageing

 

 

 

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Case Study: Transform Ageing

Transform Ageing, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, was a pioneering programme taking a community and design-led approach to improve people’s experience of ageing. The programme has been delivered through a partnership of Design Council, UnLtd, South West Academic Health Science Network and the Centre for Ageing Better. It brought together people in later life, social entrepreneurs, and health and social care leaders to define, develop and deliver new solutions that better support the needs and aspirations of our ageing communities.