Design Economy 2018 executive summary

Report
26/06/2018

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Inside you will find

  • A breakdown of the true value of design to the UK economy
  • A regional breakdown of design hotspots and clusters
  • Updated statistics about the UK’s design exports, employment and productivity
  • Findings on business design use from over 1000 businesses
  • Short excerpts from two case studies of businesses using design
  • International comparisons

This will interest

  • Designers
  • Business leaders
  • Local and central government
  • Academics, economists, statisticians and research professionals

The Design Economy 2018 is the Design Council's report on the state of design in the UK, and its value to the economy. It expands on our previous research in 2015, and in addition to exploring the supply of design firms and designers, also explores how the rest of the UK business population interacts with them, and what the demand for design is.

Credits

  • Authors: Sally Benton, Stephen Miller, Sophie Reid
  • Art Direction: Calum Spence
  • Illustration: Kouzou Sakai – Folio Art
  • Research: Enterprise Research Centre, BMG Research, BOP Consulting

Contact

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News & opinion

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News — 04/10/2019

KiwiCo: Inspiring the next generation of designers To find out who is out there developing educational solutions to design, we spoke to KiwiCo whose mission is to support kids’ creativity and encourage them to be makers and innovators. We spoke to KiwiCo, whose mission is to support kids’ creativity and encourage them to be makers and innovators.

Feature — 31/01/2019
Design Economy 2018 map
Design Economy 2018 map

Can the North lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution? The North can lead the fourth industrial revolution as it did the first. To achieve this however, we need to invest in design and, importantly, design skills. To achieve this however, we need to invest in design and, importantly, design skills.

Feature — 31/01/2019
Design Economy 2018
Design Economy 2018

The importance of design education Sarah Weir, Design Council CEO and Steven Kyffin, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University talk about design education at the launch of the Design Economy 2018 at the Great Exhibition of the North. Sarah Weir, Design Council CEO and Steven Kyffin, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Northumbria University talk about the importance of design education.

Feature — 31/01/2019
Design Economy 2018 education
Design Economy 2018 education

Watch: The Design Economy 2018 – Education Malcolm Garret, Creative Director of Images & Co, talks about the importance of design education at the launch of the Design Economy 2018 at the Great Exhibition of the North. Malcolm Garret, Creative Director of Images & Co, talks about the importance of design education at the launch of the Design Economy 2018.

Feature — 31/01/2019

Resources

Download our Strategy 2020-24 Our Strategy 2020-24 outlines how we will ensure design is used as a force for change, helping us to tackle some of the toughest economic, societal and environment challenges in the UK and beyond. This document outlines our key priorities – improving health and wellbeing, enabling sustainable... Our Strategy 2020-24 outlines how we will ensure design is used as a force for change

Report — 23/03/2020
Page/Park
Page/Park

The Design Economy 2018 – Page/Park Page\Park Architects is a renowned Glasgow based mid-sized architecture practice which has designed many iconic public buildings across Scotland. The firm is employee-owned and architects at all levels take an active role in the day-to-day running of the firm. A renowned Glasgow based mid-sized architecture practice which has designed many iconic public buildings across Scotland.

Case study — 11/12/2018
The Guardian
The Guardian

The Design Economy 2018 – The Guardian The Guardian is a news publication of The Guardian Media Group. It has a long history of strong design culture and a highly ‘design literate’ readership. The Guardian is a news publication of The Guardian Media Group. It has a long history of strong design culture and a highly ‘design literate

Case study — 14/11/2018
Monzo card
Monzo card

The Design Economy 2018 – Monzo How the creators of the banking sector's most iconic new bank card use design to build trust and differentiate themselves to customers and investors. Design-led innovation in the banking sector.

Case study — 10/10/2018
Studio Moross
Studio Moross

The Design Economy 2018 – Studio Moross Studio Moross is an interdisciplinary design and creative studio, specialising in work for the music industry, entertainment sector, consumer packaged goods, and food and beverages. Here, they discuss how their culture of collaboration and openness is tackling a lack of diversity in design. Tackling a lack of diversity in design.

Case study — 17/09/2018