"Complex problems demand innovative solutions..."

David Kester, Design Council Chief Executive

In this section you can find out about the ways design is making a difference in all areas of the UK. You can also share your views on current design, business and policy issues.

The Design Council is working towards real change in the following areas:

Driving competitiveness in industry

Improving innovation in public services

Design skills development

Can design help in the fight against crime?

  • Stage: We're leading a £1.6million programme that will use design thinking to tackle crime in gadgets, places and spaces.
  • Addressing: Improving innovation in public services

Why is crime an issue for design?

Crime has fallen over the last decade but new crime challenges have emerged as society, and technology, have evolved.

Perspectives

Sebastian Conran

Sebastian Conran

Designer and founder member of the Design and Technology Alliance

 

Quote: This major phase of our work clearly shows that the Home Office has great confidence in the potential of the Designing Out Crime approach. The Design and Technology Alliance is a unique collaboration of some of the most experienced and creative minds in the country, and I am looking forward to seeing major positive impacts as a result of our work over the next three years.

More perspectives and the chance to contribute

A hospital bed

How can design help deliver better health services?

  • Stage: The Design Council is demonstrating how design can help hospitals stay clean and individual people manage their own healthy active lifestyles
  • Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Improving innovation in public services

What can design do to help improve our nation's health?

Bad health is putting pressure on us and on our health system. We think that design can help find ways to motivate people to lead more active lifestyles and to manage their health more effectively.

A local resident makes use of the public services available in her area

Can we create better public services using design?

  • Stage: We have prototyped some new ideas for public services
  • Addressing: Improving innovation in public services

Why are public services an issue for design?

How can we use design methods and processes to not only encourage innovation from suppliers, but innovation in services themselves?

Can design help businesses survive today's tough economic climate?

  • Stage: The Design Council will soon publish case study evidence of how design has helped small businesses overcome tough market conditions
  • Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry

How have other firms succeeded when times are tough?

In the middle of an economic downturn, SMEs need all the help they can get to survive the tough times. Design can help them take advantage of new market opportunities, and there's tax credits available for strategic R&D.

Can design help make UK technology fit for market?

  • Stage: The Design Council has run a pilot scheme to help Technology Transfer Offices use design to commercialise technology
  • Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Design skills development

Why is technology transfer an interesting new market for UK designers?

The UK has a world class science and technology base. Results show we are getting better at commercialising research outputs from our universities but there is scope for further improvement. And design can help.

A technology visualisation
Chris Downs from service design consultancy LiveWork shares his ideas with a group of government officials

What makes the UK an innovation nation?

  • Stage: The Government's Annual Innovation report describes our progress in making the UK the best place to run an innovative business or public service
  • Addressing: Driving competitiveness in industry, Improving innovation in public services

Can the Government help make the UK more innovative?

The Government department in charge of making us all more innovative has published the first of its annual reviews of innovation in the UK. DIUS wants to help both public and private sectors take advantage of new opportunities created by the demand for innovation.

What other issues are there?



Design studentWhat skills do designers need in the 21st century?

Emerging economiesWhat's the threat from emerging economies? 

Creative EconomyWhy is everyone talking about the creative economy? 

Science and innovationDesigning more competitive science and innovation

School designCan design make schools more sustainable?  

UK InnovationWhat stops small businesses using design?

Business studies and designCan universities bring business studies and design closer? 

Dott 07 logoCan we use design to improve how people live?

Energy illustrationCan design reduce our energy consumption?