Release date: 01 June 2012
Top designers and business people are to join Government ministers including Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, at the Design Council’s 2012 Design Summit on 26 June. The Summit will debate how the country can exploit its uniquely ‘British’ assets and talents to help rebalance the economy and boost demand for UK products and services.
The Summit, entitled ‘Who Do We Think We Are?’ will examine the role of designing and making as a vital component in rebalancing the economy and generating sustainable growth. Scheduled midway between the Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics, it will reflect on the distinctive qualities of modern Britain and ask: “How can design turn national characteristics into economic growth?”
Some of the UK’s foremost industry leaders and thinkers will lead the Summit sessions, including economist Professor John Kay, research and
trends forecaster Ben Page (Ipsos MORI) and serial entrepreneurs Brent Hoberman (Lastminute.com and Made.com) and Sara Murray Confused.com and Buddi). Leading creative minds such as industrial designer Sebastian Conran and architect Sunand Prasad will also pitch in to the debate.
The Summit will examine inspirational case-studies of design-led success stories – from products to places. Regenerations of Manchester and Kings Cross will be presented by industry leader Sir Howard Bernstein and developer, Roger Madelin. Creating successful consumer products will be explored by Saville Row tailor Timothy Everest (Pearson Bikes) and Gerry McGovern (Land Rover). Ideas from the day will
be brought together and discussed with key decision makers and influencers of Government policy, including the BIS Director General for Strategy, Analysis and Better Regulation, Tera Allas and EEF and Design Council Chairman, Martin Temple. The day will conclude with
a reception hosted by the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science.
The Summit is being supported by major names in the motor industry, media and service sector, including Jaguar Land Rover, The Independent, Quintessentially and Ipsos MORI. It will be convened by Lord Michael Bichard, former Chair of the Design Council.
David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council said:
“With continued poor growth, the case for rebalancing the economy is clear. This Summit will shift the debate from the “what” to defining the “how” - how can we re-position UK plc in the eyes of the markets, and harness our national characteristics to give the UK a distinctive voice in the global economy. How can we turn the provenance of our products and services to support greater export success and encourage inward investment How can local characteristics of places be turned into national assets?”
The Summit is part of the Design Council’s commitment to bringing together decision makers and opinion formers from design, industry, academia and government to identify new ways in which design can be included in policy-making, particularly in the drive to rebalance the UK economy. The 2011 Design Council Summit resulted in the inclusion of design throughout the Government’s Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth, published in December 2011.
The identity for the Summit has been developed as a reinterpretation of the logo which was created for the Britain Can Make It exhibition in 1946, which was organised and held by the Design Council’s fore-runner the Council for Industrial Design. This aimed to re-invigorate the UK economy by promoting well-designed products.
The Design Summit will be held in the Council Chamber of London City Hall on Tuesday 26 June.
Ends
Further information
Tim Crowley on 0207 420 5263 / tim.crowley@designcouncil.org.uk
Notes to editors
The 2012 Design Summit programme is as follows (all speakers confirmed):
Design Summit 2012 | 26 June at City Hall | Design for Growth: Who Do We Think We Are?
In association Jaguar Land Rover and The Independent
Summary Agenda
08:50 Introduction to the day
Lord Bichard, convenor of the Summit welcomes guests.
Ian Callum, Design Director of Jaguar opening comments from Summit sponsor.
09:00 MINISTERIAL ADDRESS
The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
09:30 Session 1 – VISIONS FOR A REBALANCED ECONOMY
Professor John Kay, keynote address from the leading UK economist currently writing a report for Vince Cable on equity markets and long-term decision-making.
Chaired discussion
Chris Blackhurst, Editor of the Independent and ex-City Editor of the Evening Standard interviews industry leaders on their business visions:
Brent Hoberman Co-Founder of Last Minute.com on his latest venture Made.com
Sara Murray, Founder Confused.com on her latest venture Buddi
Chaired discussion
11:00 Coffee Break
11:30 Session 2 – VIEWS ON THE UK AT HOME AND ABROAD
Ben Page, keynote address from the CEO of Ipsos MORI on the defining characteristics of Britishness based on latest consumer research and new insights commissioned for the Summit.
Provocations from leading practitioners based on their insights and experience:
Sebastian Conran, of Sebastian Conran Associates on what makes British products?
Sunand Prasad of Penoyre and Prasad on what makes British architecture?
Chaired discussion
12:30 Lunch
13:30 SESSION 3a – how local characteristics become national assets
Workshop chaired by: Trudi Elliott, CEO of the Royal Town Planning Institute with short case-study presentations:
Manchester: re-inventing a metropolitan city from Sir Howard Bernstein, CEO of Manchester City Council
Kings Cross: building a new European hub in London from Roger Madelin, CEO of Argent, the main developer
Cardiff: BBC Studios and attracting investment to Wales from Chris Brown CEO of Igloo
Londonderry: linking community cohesion to growth from Aideen McGinley, CEO Ilex
Chaired discussion
13:30 SESSION 3b – HOW PRODUCT PROVENANCE BECOMES EXPORT SUCCESS
Workshop chaired by Nicola Mendelsohn, Kamarama and President of the Insitute of Practitioners in Advertising with short case-study presentations:
Pearson bikes: Saville Row meets the world’s oldest bike shop from Timothy Everest, bespoke tailor
Sugru: a dynamic British start-up business with design and innovation at its heart from Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh
Quintessentially: creating a high-end global concierge service from Ben Elliott, Co-founder
Land Rover: re-defining the brand in growth markets from Gerry McGovern, Design Director and Chief Creative Officer
Chaired discussion
15:30 Coffee Break
16:00 SESSION FOUR: PLENARY DEBATE
Policy forum with feedback from selected experts including Terry Alafat and Martin Temple and debate chaired by Lord Bichard
17:30 RECEPTION in association with Quintessentially British
Hosted by The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science
19.30 Ends