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The Design Council is to move to the Angel Building, a new Stirling Prize-shortlisted office building on St John’s Street, London EC1 later this year, after fifteen years in its current location in Bow Street, Covent Garden.

The move is planned for summer 2012 and will allow the Design Council to reduce its outgoings and improve its commitment to sustainability whilst occupying a more flexible, modern space which reflects its broader role to champion excellent design in the built environment.

Design Council Trustee, Rab Bennetts, giving evidence to the All Party Group for Excellence in the Built Environment, has called for a new code of practice for design procurement, which would replace the current ‘tick-box’ methodology with one that ensures the most appropriate designers are selected for public buildings of all kinds.

The Design Council announces the appointment of Tony Burton as our new Director of Policy and Communications to lead the organisation’s work as a centre of insight and advice to industry, education, communities and government on the role of design.

Design Council Cabe research on how the design of modern urban housing developments affects crime is available to be used by police forces across the country to help influence the layout and design of new proposed neighbourhoods and prevent crime.

Design Council initiative takes design to where small and medium businesses are, and helps them access mentoring in how to use design to survive, thrive and grow.

Today sees the launch of a road show which will travel the country encouraging businesses to use design to improve sales, protect jobs and compete in the tough economic climate.

Nahid Majid OBE is to be the new Director of Design Council Cabe, the Design Council announces today.

Nahid Majid has worked for over twenty years in urban regeneration as a professional urban designer. Initially trained as an urban planner and designer, she has led project management of high profile urban regeneration projects including the creation of the cultural quarter around Brick Lane in London.

Today sees the announcement of the winners of a national innovation challenge to develop services to help older adults stay socially connected. The Technology Strategy Board and the Design Council have awarded each of the winning teams from the Keeping Connected Business Challenge a share of £450,000 to develop their ideas over the next five months.

Research published today by the Design Council has, for the first time, highlighted design approaches to high density urban housing developments which can reduce low-level crime, neighbour disputes and antisocial behaviour. Avoiding large rear parking courts, un-overlooked paths and spaces, dealing carefully with corner properties, making parking more intuitive for residents and visitors and lastly not relying on gating a scheme as an off the shelf means to address crime are amongst the elements which are identified in the Design Council study which was commissioned by the Home Office.

As a principle sponsor of the Design Commission’s independent enquiry into design education, the Design Council welcomes the publication of their report. We are glad that the report highlights the importance of design in schools, and the recognition that design education is fundamental to national prosperity through maintaining the UK’s world-leading design industry.

Design Council Cabe has highlighted the need for good design to be at the heart of the proposed surface developments which run the length of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, also known as the ‘supersewer’. The recommendations coincide with the first days of the London Policy Conference – billed as a ‘Davos for London’ – which is considering the major challenges for the city and how we shape its future.

Design Council has key role in delivery of the plan

Design is to play a central role in the government’s new Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth - unveiled today by the department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS). Design is written into each of the five key areas of the government’s new strategy, including central roles in commercialising science and technology, supporting business innovation and growth, driving innovative new approaches to big societal challenges, developing rigorous research on impact of design, and using design to attract inward investment and promote export opportunities.

The first Design Council Forum of nearly 100 leaders in design, business, government and education has cautiously agreed that government should have a design strategy. However, today’s lively debate at the Design Council concluded that what is needed first is a clear vision – developed collaboratively by the design sector, business, education and others - for Britain’s aspirations as a design-led nation, encompassing quality of life and education.

Quentin Blake, one of Britain’s best-loved illustrators and the man who created the world-famous images of the Big Friendly Giant and Matilda, will be named the winner of the 2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at a ceremony at the Design Council in London this evening, Tuesday 29th November.

‘Thinking dogs for dementia’ and an appetite-stimulating ‘scent clock’ are amongst five innovative products and services which will be developed by teams of designers, support groups and industry experts, to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

The announcement was made today by the Department of Health and the Design Council which will award the teams a share of £360,000 to design and develop prototypes of their ideas.

The Design Council welcomes the Government’s commitment to good design and the strengthening of design support to achieve the type of high quality homes.  We do not believe there needs to be a choice between quality and quantity and are committed to working with industry on ways to incentivise good quality schemes that communities welcome and people want to live in