The comprehensive design knowledge resource

Contact the editorial team at the Design Council

If you want information about using design, facts and figures about the UK design industry, or information on particular design disciplines or sectors, you can find it here. 

Our world-class resource has in-depth information on design and business issues and opportunities, written by recognised experts, as well as information for students and educators.

You can also listen to podcasts and see recent design-related stories from the press.


Business media round up

 

Read the latest design and innovation stories from the international business media


New Frontiers: Sustainable Design Innovation Initiative Launches in the UK

Published 19 Feb 2010

For those doubtful about how we can get out of the various sustainability crises we now find ourselves in, financial, social and environmental, I have two words for you: design innovation.

How do you compare a beehive and a building? The 2010 Designs of the Year awards

by Waldemar Januszczak, The Times

Published 19 Feb 2010

The Times runs its eye over the Brit Insurance Designs of the Year shortlist and picks its favourites.

Designing a Business Degree at the Parsons School for Design

by Bruce Nussbaum, BusinessWeek

Published 19 Feb 2010

How can business education be transformed to become a learning experience that helps students navigate a changing world using the tools and methods of design?

Podcasts and downloads

 

Our podcasts and downloads feature comment from some top designers

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Featured

podcastDesigning Demand: Sir Alan Jones

Sir Alan Jones

Sir Alan Jones
09 September 2008
Duration: 29 mins
Size: 26MB

Sir Alan Jones, of Toyota, Chairman of SEMTA and Diploma Champion for Employers, on the need to develop the right skills for business, the importance of design skills and the importance of the skills agenda for the future of industry.

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Managing design

 

Not sure how design could fit into your business? Want to find out how other people do it? Read our in-depth articles on how design is managed, with practical ideas and real-life examples of design being used for business success


LEGO was among eleven companies who have shared their design processes

Eleven lessons: managing design in eleven global brands

How do leading companies manage design in their businesses? Our in-depth study of the design processes used in eleven global brands gives real insights into the way design operates in these firms, and delivers usable lessons for all designers and managers

The design process

Different designers manage the process of design in different ways. But when we studied the design process in eleven leading companies, we found striking similarities and shared approaches among the designers we talked to. In this section we show one way of mapping the design process, and give more detail on the key activities in each of the process's four stages

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Business essentials

 

What are the latest issues affecting businesses? What's new in the world of design thinking? Find out here in our collection of essential information for businesses


Business guides for designers

It's never been more important to develop your business skills. We’ve put together a series of guides for design professionals which offer practical advice and information on the business issues facing today’s designers. Managing agencies and people Managing client relationshipsHow can consultancies and freelancers build lasting relationships with clients? Our guide covers approaches to...

The power of branding: a practical guide

We have created this free guide to shed some light on the subject of branding; what it is, how it works and how you can use it to help improve your business.

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Design disciplines

 

From product design to retail interiors, find out about design with our guides from international experts


Automotive design

Automotive design is a complicated discipline. Although primarily concerned with the appearance of a vehicle, it is governed by various factors including security, safety and engineering - all of which have their own set of specialists. This means that as well as designing to very high standards, automotive designers must have excellent teamworking and communication skills, say Chris Clements and...

Lamborghini Miura by Marcello Gandini/Bertone

Information design

By co-ordinating a range of design, language, evaluation and technical skills, information designers play a vital role in making complex information easy to understand and use. Sue Walker and Mark Barratt look at the challenges facing the information design profession today and assess future trends

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Facts and figures

 

Look up and download facts and figures on design in the UK, and learn more about our research


Design Council Briefings

Briefing papers on the impact of design on businesses and public services, written by the Design Council research team as well as expert authors.

International Design Research

A two year project aimed at comparing design capabilities across nations and at comprehensively capturing how much UK firms spend on design has produced preliminary results and suggestions of how to make future research more reliable.

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Resources for design teachers and students

 

Primary, secondary and further education teachers, as well as design and business lecturers, can find information here on teaching and learning about design in all manner of disciplines and sectors


Design documentary: 50 years of British innovation

Adrian Westaway

In this short film, designer Adrian Westaway celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Prince Philip Designers Prize by taking a closer look at five decades of award winning design.


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Design techniques

 

Find up-to-date thinking on a range of techniques used by designers


'Dear Architect' a brief from Walker Technology College in Newcastle

How to write a design brief

This is a free guide for small businesses, public services and anyone commissioning a designer.

User-centred design

The most successful designs come from understanding the needs of the people that use them. Alison Black gives an insight into how a user-centred approach can lead to innovative products and services that deliver real consumer benefit.

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