Design Council
If you've not used something before, it can be good to get some expert help. Only experts sometimes use language that doesn't make sense to you and they certainly won't be an expert about you, or your business.
If the thing you haven't used before is design, what you need is an expert who will get to know your company and who can introduce you to the design methods, tools and processes that make sense for your business.
It can also be good to learn from others who've gone through the same thing as you.
Graham Burchell, Managing Director of Challs International undertook a design project with some expert help. He says: 'Design has changed our culture and we want more of it. We want to work with designers to find new ways to challenge the rules. Good design will stand the test of time but it doesn’t stand still. We're not stopping here.'
Read how Graham's company increased sales by 35%
Find out more about how to find and work with a designer in our free step-by-step guide
Read more case studies about small companies who've used design to build their business
In 2005, the Cox Review of Creativity in Business asked why small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not making better use of the UK’s creative talents, and what could be done about it.
In his review, our then chairman, Sir George Cox identified a number of reasons why smaller businesses who want to grow are not successfully identifying, implementing or managing the opportunities for creativity and innovation which could help improve their competitiveness and performance.
According to business organisations, and, importantly, the people who run small businesses themselves:
- Companies know about creativity, but aren’t really sure where or how it can be used in their business or to meet the specific challenges that they are facing
- Companies aren’t confident that any investment – of either time or money – in new ways of doing things would give a satisfactory return
- Many companies don’t know where to turn to for help or advice on bringing creativity into their businesses
The Cox Review recommended a programme aimed at helping smaller companies identify where creative skills could help significantly improve their performance and then take action to make this happen. It's called Designing Demand and the Design Council is currently working with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to roll out Designing Demand throughout the UK.
While Designing Demand is a great programme, it’s not the only answer to helping SMEs understand how applying creative approaches across their businesses can lead to growth. The Cox Review also made three further recommendations
- We need to see more creative specialists – including designers – in the boardroom
- The IoD’s Chartered Director programme could include ‘managing creativity’ on its syllabus
- The media could encourage creativity and innovation in the same way that programmes like The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den encourage enterprise and entrepreneurship
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has published 'Enterprise: Unlocking the UK's talents' which notes the strengths and vibrancy of the UK design sector but says that businesses are still not connecting well with design.
It suggests:
- The establishment of multidisciplinary centres of excellence in universities. It marks out Design London and Cranfield and University of the Arts collaboration for their work in integrating design and creativity with engineering, technology and business.
- More Designing Demand. The programme is helping small businesses to perform better, build increased profits and sustain competitive advantage, all by using design effectively.
- Designing Demand for London will be run by Design London and Grant Thornton UK LLP for the London Development Agency.
