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

Our response to the 2018 budget If the Chancellor is to “meet the needs of a new age” investing in design, across the economy, is a key part of the solution. If the Chancellor is to “meet the needs of a new age” investing in design, across the economy, is a key part of the solution.

News — 30/10/2018
Zander Brade, Monzo
Zander Brade, Monzo

Monzo: Designing good mental health into the way we bank We caught up with Zander Brade, Lead Product Designer at Monzo Bank, to talk about the importance of design and innovation, and how a focus on mental health showed Monzo that embedding accessibility within products and services will ultimately benefit everyone. How embedding accessibility within products and services will ultimately benefit everyone.

Feature — 17/10/2018
Design Economy 2018 seeds
Design Economy 2018 seeds

Video: The link between design and innovation For the release of our groundbreaking report The Design Economy 2018, we spoke with Alistair Kitching of Reece Innovation to find out more about the link between design and other key areas of innovation such as science and engineering. We spoke with Alistair Kitching of Reece Innovation to find out more about the link between design and other key areas of innovation.

Feature — 10/10/2018
Design Economy 2018
Design Economy 2018

The Design Economy 2018 – Introducing the case studies Design Council commissioned seven case studies to sit alongside the economic analysis and survey from the Design Economy 2018, bringing to life how some firms are using design. We commissioned seven case studies to bring to life how some firms are using design in a systematic or strategic way.

News — 14/09/2018
Design Economy 2018
Design Economy 2018

Why design is integral to the future of UK exports Design will play a major role if we are to increase to reach the government’s ambition of raising exports as a proportion of GDP by 5%. Design will play a major role if we are to increase to reach the government’s ambition of raising exports as a proportion of GDP by 5%.

News — 24/08/2018

Resources

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
Fjord image
Fjord image

Video: The Design Economy 2018 – Fjord In this video, Group Director Celia Romaniuk discusses the merger, which sought to allow Fjord’s culture to grow and thrive, as well as some of the design approaches Fjord apply in their work with clients. In this video, Group Director Celia Romaniuk discusses the merger which sought to allow Fjord’s culture to grow and thrive.

Case study — 26/06/2018
City ID
City ID

Video: The Design Economy 2018 – City ID In this video, Founder and Design Director Mike Rawlinson explains how their first project for Bristol City Council – which introduced the idea of ‘Legible Cities’ – led to work nationally and internationally. In this video, Founder & Design Director Mike Rawlinson explains how the idea of ‘Legible Cities’ led to work nationally and...

Case study — 26/06/2018
Map project office
Map project office

Video: The Design Economy 2018 – Map Project Office In this video, Founder and Design Director Jon Marshall (who became a Partner at Pentagram in April 2018, after 6 years at Map) introduces the Map approach to working with start-ups and how this has changed how they work with larger brands as well. In this video, Founder and Design Director Jon Marshall introduces the Map approach to working with start-ups.

Case study — 26/06/2018