Around the world nations are turning to design and architecture to strengthen their image, to drive up their competitiveness and innovation and to shape and regenerate their communities.

 

At the Design for Growth Summit in June the coalition government announced that design will be essential to its new Innovation and Research Strategy to drive economic growth. Government has also placed an emphasis on design in its draft planning framework to encourage sustainable development.

 

Does this go far enough? Is there more – or less – for policymakers to consider when it comes to design as a theme across government? Should design strategy cover areas such as education, energy, transport, infrastructure and health strategies? Is it all happening anyway or would design benefit from being more explicit and connected?