Release date: 15 January 2012
Today, those behind the #includedesign campaign urge policy makers to revisit the EBacc proposal to include creative subjects and build upon the success of initiatives like Tech City
Tech City is the 'brand' name given by the government to the creative technology community in and around Shoreditch in east London. There are more than 3000 creative tech firms in this area of London employing over 50,000 people.
The government’s aim is to encourage continued investment throughout this area of London - to appeal not only to small and agile startups but the bigger tech companies like Google. The ultimate ambition is to create a tech hub for Europe that rivals the likes of Silicon Valley.
“For those of us working in Shoreditch we’ve appreciated and supported the government’s Tech City initiative. Any attention, support and investment in this area is a good thing. However, recently we feel Michael Gove’s proposed EBacc has undermined this positive initiative by demonstrating a lack of real understanding when it comes to the needs of companies like ours.” Joe Macleod, ustwo and #includedesign campaign lead.
The EBacc qualification will exclude creative subjects and computer science from the education system – many of which make up key foundations to a successful career within a creative technology company. The omission of these subjects will have a direct impact on future talent becoming part of such a vibrant and successful industry.
The start-up companies in Tech City have had major success on the back of blending design and development skills together to make new and innovative products. Both skill-sets play a crucial role in taking ideas from their infancy in early sketches, through to rapid prototyping and development, to finally marketing and launching a product.
To join the likes of Stella McCartney, IDEO and Foster and Partners, put your name to the #includedesign campaign and support future generations of creative talent.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. On 6 December 2012 the design industry wrote an open letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education:
Dear Secretary of State
We write to you on behalf of the UK design industry.
We believe that the omission of subjects such as Design & Technology and Art & Design from the English Baccalaureate will damage the future
prosperity of our industry and the wider creative economy. It will fail to provide students with the skills that UK employers need and its impact on
the UK’s economy will be catastrophic.
The UK creative industries are the envy of the world, we set the bar in excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship. The development of an English Baccalaureate affords the Government an opportunity to enhance one of the strongest areas of our economy. It is an opportunity to create a generation that will stand the best chance of improving our global competitiveness and contribute to our future economic growth. In its proposed form however, we believe the English Baccalaureate will starve our world leading creative sector of its future pioneers.
Collectively we champion good design which shapes society and improves the way people live. The UK’s design industry is the largest in Europe and one of the strongest globally – NESTA estimates £23bn is spent on design, while Imperial College put the figure at £33.5bn in 2011. Design Council research demonstrates that despite the recession the industry grew by 29 per cent between 2005 and 2010. Design is the lynchpin that connects our creative industries together and is fundamental to a broad range of disciplines from advertising to architecture, from furniture to fashion.
The innovation that fuels UK growth relies on knowledge, the skilled use of materials and the command of ideas. Design and the arts are vital components of an accessible and varied education system that can provide these skills.
The prospect of future generations growing up considering these subjects as unimportant is simply incomprehensible. We therefore urge you to rethink the Government’s proposal to exclude Design and the arts from the English Baccalaureate and to add a sixth pillar option for these subjects into the EBacc.
Sir Jonathan Ive
Stella McCartney
Edward Barber, RDI
Jay Osgerby, RDI
Sir Terence Conran
Design Council
D&AD
British Interactive Media Association
IDEO
Interbrand
Seymour Powell
Landor
Hemingway Design
Sapient
Mother
ustwo
Landor
Wieden + Kennedy
WolffOlins
Fjord
Fitch
Method
Albion
All of Us
BERG
The Brand Union
Critical Mass
DBA (Design Business Association)
The Design and Technology Association
Design Museum
Design Week
Engine
Joseph Joseph
LBi
LiveWork
Made by Many
Moving Brands
Native
OneDotZero
Poke
Think
Wunderman
Zolmo
Computer Arts
Contagious Magazine
Its Nice That
Vice
Digital Arts
Hyper Island
University of Reading
Goldsmiths, University of London
University of the Arts London
Aqueduct
Toaster
Codegent
The New Black
Nation
Mylo Design
Somewhat
Analog Folk
Glug
Anthony Dickens
Numiko
Black+Blum
Kin
Figtree
SomeOne
Viadynamics
Design Laboratory
Mosley&
Hedgehog Lab
Not Tom
Dalton Maag
Typo
Deadgood
MayNinth
Digital Doughnut
WeAreExperience
Weapon7
Mark Thomson Design
383 Project
Monokoto
CDD
Northern Digitals
BLAB
Graphical House
Signal-Noise
Bibliotheque
Design Studio
1977 Design
Mat Dolphin
Cog Design
Multiadaptor
Mobext
Flamingo Magazine
Creative Mediani
Ubiquitous
Planning Unit
Irving & Co.
Felt
Create Forty Eight
Blue Leaf
Kemistry
999 Design
Alienation Digital
Bethan Gray
Brokenantler
Canonical
Cream Design
Cyber Duck
Designintuition
Digital White
Emperor Design
Farnbeyond
Flat 33
Glad
Hometown
Huw David design
Hyper Kit
Karoshi
KK Outlet
Lambie Nairn
Leopold
No Sugar Studio
Not Just Design
Obsessionistas
Philosophy Design
Piratalondon
Plot Red front
Redberry Digital
Rocket
Rosie Lees
Sociates
Stereo Creative
Vincent and Bell
Visceral Business
WDC
We Are Human
Wickedweb
Design Jam
Playgroup
Spov
Sidekick Studios
Insider Trends
The Loft
Great Fridays
Alive Agency
Campbell Rowley
2. The ‘Include Design’ campaign is a web based campaign (#includedesign; http://includedesign.org/)
3. 'Include Design’ is part of the Bacc for the future campaign (http://www.baccforthefuture.com/),
and encourages participants to sign the online petition
4. For further information please contact:
Tim Crowley, Head of Communications, Design Council
07748 906897
tim.crowley@designcouncil.org.uk