The first Design Council Forum of nearly 100 leaders in design, business, government and education has agreed that government should have a design strategy. However, following lively debate at the Design Council on 1 December 2011, it was agreed that first a clear vision – developed collaboratively by the design sector, business, education and others – is needed for Britain’s aspirations as a design-led nation, encompassing quality of life and education.
There was clear agreement that any strategy should be joined up across all government departments, be actionable, specific, and encompass government procurement as well as other levers outside government for delivering the vision. The debate also identified that more focus needs to be placed on building the evidence for the positive effects of a design as part of a concerted campaign to improve the perception and understanding of design at the highest levels of government.
You can find out what was said at the 2011 Design Forum by watching the films of each of the sessions below or by reading what was said on our live blog. You can also follow the activity on Twitter #designforum11.
Should government have a design strategy? from Design Council on Vimeo.
Fergus Harradence, BIS, speaking at the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.
Brian Valbjorn Sorensen, the Danish Ministry of Business, speaking at the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.
Tim Horton, Australian Design Commission, speaking at the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.
Liz Hobman, CLG, speaking at the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.
Gavin Cawood, Design Wales, speaking at the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.
Welcome from Lord Bichard to the 2011 Design Forum from Design Council on Vimeo.