"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:

Business and public sector innovation

Improving innovation in public services

Design skills development

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: 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.

Perspectives

Alan Johnson MP

Secretary of State for Health

'Although the chances of acquiring a healthcare associated infection are relatively low, when a patient does it is extremely distressing for them, their family and the NHS staff treating them. Infection is also costly. On average, it adds three to ten days onto a patient’s length of stay in hospital, and for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) that stay will be even longer. Financially it can cost between £4,000 and £10,000 more to treat a patient with an infection' ... 'What we need to do is equip the NHS with the tools it needs to take on the problem of healthcare associated infections and win.'

More perspectives and the chance to contribute

What skills do designers need and how do they get them?

Stage: We have published a design skills blueprint to implement the suggestions made in 'High-level skills for higher value' a report on design industry skills
Addressing: Design skills development

How can we help designers get the right skills?

British design is the best in the world. But we need to take action now to make sure it stays that way.

What stops small companies using design?

Stage: We have launched a programme called Designing Demand to help SMEs increase profit, sales and market share using design
Addressing: Business and public sector innovation, Design skills development

How can design make sense for smaller businesses?

The share prices of design-led companies out-performed key FTSE indices by 200% over ten years, but SMEs don't always understand the value design can add to their business

This project is part of The Cox Review of Creativity in Business

Can design help in the fight against crime?

Stage: We are part of the new Design and Technology Alliance, a group of experts in design, consumer affairs and crime. With them we will establish new ways for good design to tackle crime.
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.

Hot products like these are likely to be the targets of criminals

Can we use design to improve how people live?

Stage: People in the North East have worked for a year to develop practical examples of how they could design their own lives better
Addressing: Improving innovation in public services, Design skills development

What is Dott?

Designs of the time (Dott) asks 'Can we use design to help people live how they want to live?'

Can universities bring business studies and creativity closer together?

Stage: We have been looking at international examples of best practice
Addressing: Business and public sector innovation, Design skills development

Why is this an issue for design?

Designers need to help decide what kind of centres should be set up to enable multidisciplinary groups of designers, scientists, anthropologists, economists and others to drive innovation

What other issues are there?

What's the threat from emerging economies?

Why is everyone talking about the creative economy?

Designing more competitive science and innovation

School design Can design make schools more sustainable?

UK Innovation What makes the UK an innovation nation?

Design and health Can we create better public services using design?