Highlights from our Leading Business by Design Summit 2015

On 18 June 2015, we welcomed manufacturers, business leaders, designers and policymakers to our annual summit at Birmingham City University. We explored how design methods are being used to drive positive change within UK manufacturing businesses and their supply chains. 

The summit saw the launch of two new reports providing an in-depth analysis of strategic design’s impact on the passenger automotive and civil aerospace sectors. 

We heard from leaders in the UK manufacturing sector on the common themes to come out of the sector-specific research. Key areas including innovation and growth, collaboration, skills and competencies and futureproofing have the potential to yield results across the whole of the sector.

Here's what people had to say on the day. 

Innovation and growth

Event chair, broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Lang started things off with the simple explanation "today is about demystifying design in manufacturing". 

Any economist will tell you that innovation is key to growth, its speed ever more important. -Lee Hopley @EEF_Economists #LeadingbyDesign

— Michael Folkerson (@mfolkerson) June 18, 2015

Lee Hopley @EEF_Economists says #UKmfg cite quality, technology, brand & reputation & design as top competitive advantages #LeadingbyDesign

— Design Council (@designcouncil) June 18, 2015

Design & HVM: "Solving the problems others ignore" Dyson's design process #leadingbydesign @designcouncil pic.twitter.com/XF4nfLZrzm

— KTN Creative (@KTN_Creative) June 18, 2015

Supply chain

All the panellists for our second session agreed that collaboration and open communication both internally and between organisations is critical for success in manufacturing. 

#LeadingByDesign "Our competitive edge comes from the supply chain...it's us plus our 2000 suppliers out there" Richard Baker @rollsroyce

— KTN Creative (@KTN_Creative) June 18, 2015

'You don't know what you don't know' - Chris Guy, Hydro Systems, on the importance of open collaboration in #supplychains #leadingbydesign

— Design Council (@designcouncil) June 18, 2015

#leadingbydesign design helps co's come more robust & find collective innovation ops for their supply chain- Ellie Runcie @designcouncil

— Beatrice Rogers (@rogers_beatrice) June 18, 2015

 

Skills

The issues of developing talent and skills and ensuring access to a diverse workforce came up again and again over the course of the day. In particular, Professor Dame Julia King inspired us with her vision for a better engineering education.

"#engineering grads need to have exp. of CDIO #productdesign #psychology #userexperience #marketing," Prof Dame Julia King #LeadingbyDesign

— Jonny Williamson (@Jonny_Will_28) June 18, 2015

Dame Julia King 'bringing intuition and analysis together'- a great way to define #innovation #leadingbydesign pic.twitter.com/DqsLgHwmJf

— Marion Gillet (@marion_gillet) June 18, 2015

John Male @the_MTC_org: If we want more role-models in engineering/ design, as an industry we need to celebrate heroes more #LeadingbyDesign

— Design Council (@designcouncil) June 18, 2015

Futureproofing

The last session looked at using design to create sustainable strategies in manufacturing. The audience was fascinated by the insights, ideas and cutting-edge products that speakers highlighted.

80% of environmental impacts of products and services area determined at the early design stages. @sherwinnovator #leadingbydesign

— Edward Hobson (@dredhobson) June 18, 2015

Just heard about Fairphone built from conflict free minerals, can be disassembled so easy to repair, lasts longer #leadingbydesign

— Kirsty Lang (@bbckirstylang) June 18, 2015

Paul Priestman - design helps us to reimagine our future, seamless moving platforms for mass transit save passengers time #leadingbydesign

— Annabella (@AnnabellaCF) June 18, 2015

In the plenary, our research partners Warwick Business School, RS Consulting and Beverley Nielsen, Director Corporate Affairs from Birmingham City University, shared their thoughts on design. 

.@PietroMicheli13: Design is a different way of problem solving "addressing problems that we might not know we have" #LeadingbyDesign

— Design Council (@designcouncil) June 18, 2015

@BeverleyNielsen sees #design about marrying technology to solve problems, but more importantly, improving quality of life #leadingbydesign

— Pamela Pinski (@PamelaPinski) June 18, 2015

 

Our Chief Executive John Mathers left us with a final thought for the day.

Collaboration breeds innovation & only innovation will ensure British manufacturing continues to excel on the world stage.

John Mathers, Chief Executive, Design Council

The team here would like to say a big thank you to all the participants, partners and guests who joined us at Birmingham City University, as well as those who couldn't be there but still engaged in the #leadingbydesign debate on Twitter. It was a great day – stay tuned for more discussions on our website as we continue to focus on design in manufacturing.