The comprehensive design knowledge resource

Contact online editor Antonia Ward

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

Design can do good as well as look good

Published 30 Jul 2008

Patrick Butler discusses the Design Council's definition of Good Design

P&G Changes Its Game

by Jeneanne Rae, BusinessWeek

Published 29 Jul 2008

How Procter & Gamble is using design thinking to crack difficult business problems

Look for the silver lining

by The Economist

Published 22 Jul 2008

Piracy - stealing other people’s R&D, artistic endeavour and IP - is theft. But sometimes companies can turn it to their advantage

Podcasts and downloads

Our podcasts and downloads feature comment from some top designers

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Featured

Leading with Design: Ralph Ardill

Ralph Ardill, The Brand Experience Consultancy
01 May 2008
Duration: 13:26 mins
Size: 6MB

Ralph Ardill, founder of The Brand Experience Consultancy reflects on his career so far and offers a personal definition of what good design leadership means to him

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

Meeting business challenges

All sectors

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

Finding and working with a designer: a step-by-step guide

We have created this free guide to explain the process of finding and working with a designer – focusing on your needs and ensuring you get the most out of the project.

Harriet Plyer

Editor, Good Schools Guide International

Never be intimated by design professionals just because you don’t know the jargon. As a client you don’t need to know everything about colour and design. If something doesn't make sense, ask what’s meant.

Getting a great website: a step-by-step guide

We have created this free guide to explain how you can improve your business with a great website. Get advice on finding a web designer, working out what your business needs, deciding how your new website will work and keeping the project on time and on budget.

More business essentials

Sustainability by Beatrice K Otto

Innovation by Bettina von Stamm

International markets by Mark Delaney

All issues

Design disciplines

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

Automotive design by Chris Clements and Dr Samantha Porter

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 Chris Clements and Dr...

Lamborghini Miura by Marcello Gandini/Bertone

Information design by Sue Walker and Mark Barratt

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

Service design by Bill Hollins

Building design by Miriam Fitzpatrick

Temporary exhibition design by David Kelley

More design disciplines

Facts and figures

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

Design Around the World

Amaze your friends with facts and figures about design in Europe from the first instalment of our directory of design organisations across the globe. So far we've done Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. And, of course, the UK

Design Industry Research

Our research presents the most comprehensive picture yet of the UK's design industry

The Value of Design Factfinder

Design and business education - the facts

Design Index

More research

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