Design in the Public Sector: Lessons from applying design approaches in the public sector | Design Council

Skip to main content

Report Design in the Public Sector: Lessons from applying design approaches in the public sector

Inside you will find

A summary of what we’ve learnt from helping public sector staff to use design approaches, with a particular focus on the most recent cohorts who have completed the programme in the East Midlands and London

This will interest

Public sector staff
Design researchers

This summary report is about what we’ve learnt from helping public sector staff to use design approaches. Design Council has run nine cohorts of our public sector programme since 2014, with local authorities and other public sector organisations across England and Scotland. A tenth cohort is in progress at the time of writing.

The programme supports participating teams to ‘reframe’ challenges
Design methods enable greater participation and different conversations
The programme helps improve awareness of design and enables skills transfer

Contact

For more information please contact:

Sian Whyte, Head of Research and Insight

Email: sian.whyte@designcouncil.org.uk Tel: 0208 420 5200

News & opinion

"There’s nothing better than being in a room of entrepreneurs" - Deborah Meaden, Spark Showcase 2019

Feature — 16/10/2019

Bristol Festival of Nature

Bristol Festival of Nature

Innovating by design with UK Science Festivals Network How can design thinking help science festivals to improve their programme and reach underserved audiences? How can design thinking help science festivals to improve their programme and reach underserved audiences?

Feature — 19/11/2018

Design Academy Hannah Manley

Design Academy Hannah Manley

How Design Academy changed my perception of design for public healthcare Hannah’s experiences on Design Academy have transformed her career path since. After graduating she took part in a graduate scheme in Nottingham looking at dementia care. Hannah’s experiences on Design Academy have transformed her career path since.

Feature — 31/10/2018

Councils turn to design to tackle public health challenges 14 projects from 18 councils across England have been selected onto Design Council’s Design in Public Sector programme. 14 projects from 18 councils across England have been selected onto Design Council’s Design in Public Sector programme.

News — 30/10/2018

Design Academy – increasing the employability of a new generation of designers The fact that I had taken part in Design Council’s Design Academy while I was at university at Ravensbourne was a significant part of the reason that I got the job. "Taking part in Design Council’s Design Academy while I was at university was a significant part of the reason that I got my job."

Feature — 16/10/2018

Design in the Public Sector workshop

Design in the Public Sector workshop

Five things we learned at Design in the Public Sector Ellen Care, Transformation and Change Officer for the London Borough of Bexley, gives us her top 5 things she will take from her time on the programme Ellen Care, Transformation and Change Officer for the London Borough of Bexley, gives us her top 5 things she will take from the programme.

Feature — 23/07/2018

Resources

Design in the Public Sector key facts Find out more information about our Design in the Public Sector programme. Find out more information about our Design in the Public Sector programme.

Guide — 10/08/2020

Vulnerable young people

Vulnerable young people

Brent Council: Keeping vulnerable young people safely in the community Brent Council wanted to develop their support for children, young people and their families through our Design in the Public Sector programme. Brent Council wanted to develop their support for children, young people and their families through Design in the Public Sector.

Case study — 12/09/2018

Planning application

Planning application

Brent Council: Using design thinking to make planning applications more efficient Brent Council applied to the Design in the Public Sector programme with the desire to make the planning application process in Brent easier and quicker. Brent Council applied to the Design in the Public Sector programme with the desire to make the planning application process in Brent easier.

Case study — 15/08/2018

Hackney Council: Connecting services to support the health of tenants in private housing Hackney Council applied for the Design Council’s Design in the Public Sector programme, funded by the Local Government Association, to find ways to deal with the health challenges some of their residents were facing. Hackney Council applied to Design in the Public Sector to find ways to deal with the health challenges some of their residents were facing.

Case study — 11/07/2018

Design Academy brochure Design Academy, designed by us and run by our design industry experts will position your university as a progressive and future-thinking institution delivering education and skills to develop the design leaders and change-makers of tomorrow. Find out more information about our Design Academy programme.

Guide — 05/05/2017

Designing better beginnings for families How Staffordshire County Council developed community-based solutions to support vulnerable families. How Staffordshire County Council developed community-based solutions to support vulnerable families.

Case study — 13/01/2017

Loading…