2012 Design Summit

Who do we think we are?

This year's Design Summit brought together world-leading designers, business leaders and government officials to discuss and debate the question 'Who do we think we are in 2012?'

Taking the opportunity of the Olympics to move our vision of Britain forward the Design Summit made a bold statement – that the time is right to reflect on the distinctive national qualities that are uniquely ours and offer such potential for our future success. How can design help turn our national characteristics into economic growth? What are the lessons we can learn in 2012 from British identity to increase inward investment and export growth? 

Where? When? Who?

The Summit was held on 26 June 2012 in the Committee Chamber at London's City Hall, designed by Foster + Partners, one of Britain's leading architects. City Hall is the embodiment of British design and a product of the national identity the Design Summit discussed. 

We tweeted. We blogged. We instagrammed, pinned and webcast -  and you can catch up on all of it right here.

Quotation marks

Live blog

Read what happened at the 2012 Design Summit in our live blog.

The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

Ministerial address by Vince Cable

Ministerial address by The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Professor John Kay, leading UK economist

Visions for a rebalanced economy, part one

Professor John Kay, leading UK economist, who is currently authoring a report for Vince Cable on equity markets and long-term decision-making.

Chris Blackhurst and Brent Hoberman

Visions for a rebalanced economy, part two

Chris Blackhurst, Editor of the Independent, interviews Brent Hoberman and Sara Murray on their business visions.

Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos MORI

Ben Page, Ipsos MORI

Keynote address from Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos MORI, on the defining characteristics of Britishness based on new consumer research.

Sebastian Conran of Sebastian Conran Associates

What makes British products?

Sebastian Conran of Sebastian Conran Associates on 'What makes British products?'.

Sunand Prasad, Penoyre and Prasad

What makes British architecture?

Sunand Prasad on 'What makes British architecture?' followed by a discussion chaired by Lord Bichard with Ben Page and Sebastian Conran.

Trudi Elliott, CEO of the Royal Town Planning Institute

How local characteristics become national assets

Workshop chaired by Trudi Elliott, CEO of the Royal Town Planning Institute, with short case-study presentations on Manchester, Kings Cross, Cardiff and Derry/Londonderry.

Nicola Mendelsohn, President of the IPA

How product provenance becomes economic success

Workshop chaired by Nicola Mendelsohn, President of the IPA, with short case-study presentations by Timothy Everest, Sugru, Quintessentially and Land Rover.

Lord Bichard

Plenary debate

Workshop feedback from Trudi Elliott and Nicola Mendelsohn followed by a policy forum with Lord Bichard and Polly Payne, BIS, Martin Temple, Chairman of EEF, Ian Callum, Jaguar, and David Kester, CEO of Design Council.

2012 Design Summit logo

Design Summit 2012 programme

The 2012 Design Summit featured some of the leading names in business and design - find out more about the programme

Our sponsors and partners

Who do we think we are? 2012 Design Summit logo

 

In partnership with Jaguar Land RoverThe Independent, IpsosMORI and Quintessentially British.

 

 

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IpsosMORI logo 

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