Governance

Our registered charity number is 272099

We are guided by the following objects: 

• The advancement of British industry and public services by the improvement of design in their processes, products and services

• The protection, enhancement, improvement and revitalisation of the natural and built environment (including architecture) 

• The advancement of the education of the public in such subjects and in subjects relating to sustainable development* and sustainable living 

• To promote study and research into the value of design and to actively disseminate the results to the public at large 

*For the Design Council, sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Funding

We are an independent charity and the UK’s national advisors on design. Our income is derived from a combination of grants, partnerships and commissioned, paid-for services.

From September 2022, the Design Council entered a new framework agreement with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to receive an annual grant for a three-year period. The move will strengthen the connection between the Design Council and AHRC, who share the common objective of furthering the role of design within the UK.

For full details of our accounts, please see our annual reports above.