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Better business by design

Five ways leading businesses are harnessing design for good growth.

Industry leaders know that “better” or “good” business means growth that is driving profit as well as positive social and environmental impact.

We've looked at five key ways leading businesses have harnessed the power of design to drive positive growth:

1

To save money.

By lightweighting products, making processes more efficient and spotting errors early through prototyping and testing, design can increase productivity, save carbon and cut costs.

2

To increase commercial appeal.

Design makes products user-centred, inclusive, attractive and desirable, increasing their commercial value and expanding the market for them.  

3

To create value out of waste or innovative materials.

Design can turn waste and bio-materials into new value. Circular and bio-based industries represent trillions in potential value which design can unlock.

4

To reduce risk and strengthen resilience.

Green design ensures legal compliance, secures supply chains, and creates multi-stream value. ESG-aligned businesses attract better investment, contracts, and turns purpose into a competitive edge.

5

To stay ahead of the curve.

As the climate changes and the world heats up, everything, from housing to transport, food to packaging, will need to be redesigned. Design helps companies imagine optimistic, alternative futures and can shape new markets.

DECATHLON

CASE STUDY

INNOVATE UK

CASE STUDY

GOMI

CASE STUDY

FAIRPHONE

CASE STUDY

IMPOSSIBLE FOODS

CASE STUDY

We know that businesses are facing increasing challenges from consumer demands, supply chain challenges, legislation changes, and future-proofing for an ever-changing business landscape including the AI boom.

In this context, we know that design can work to grow businesses at the product or strategic level: shaping products, places and services by focusing on user-needs, process efficiency and material selection, or harness creative problem-solving and systemic innovation to shape business models, purpose and direction. It enables businesses to innovate, build resilience, and deliver economic and environmental value simultaneously.

Whether it's a short or long-term challenge your business has, we want to work with you to see how design can make a difference to you.

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Design is a proven driver of growth:

£ 100 bn
in GVA contributed to UK economy from design

Design Economy

£ 1
invested in design returns up to £20

Designing Demand

45 %
of businesses said they were using design strategically to increase profitability

Design Council 2020 Business survey

Design is a key lever for sustainability:

80 %
of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage

European Commission

66 %
of designers have worked on projects with environmental outcomes in the last 12 months

The Green Design Skills Gap

$ 4.7 T
estimated value the circular economy could generate by 2030

World Economic Forum

Sustainability is good for business:

74 %
of companies agreed that sustainability investments provide competitive advantage

Natwest’s Future Fit programmes

80 %
of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable produced or sourced goods

PwC

£ 5.7 m
in investment unlocked for net zero innovation businesses

Net Zero Living

Harness the power of design for good business

Whether you want to grow design capability, tackle a complex challenge or explore how design could create more value in your organisation, we can help.

Skills for Planet

Want to put Design for Planet in practice? Explore our Blueprint to find and develop the skills you need.