Designing the digital economy

Report
14/05/2014

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Inside you will find

  • Recommendations to ensure the UK digital economy fulfils its potential
  • A critical analysis of why design is key to innovation and technology

This will interest

  • Ministers and Policy makers
  • Parliamentarians
  • Leading members in local government
  • Designers
  • Those working in the tech industry

A new independent report published by the Design Commission warns that the UK’s digital economy will not fulfil its social or economic potential without a concerted focus on design.

Amongst 17 recommendations, the report calls upon government to nurture the design and digital technology sectors on a local level, stressing the importance of growing these sectors outside of London. The proposals include development of ‘Digital Design Clusters’ – localised, collaborative infrastructure networks of higher education institutions, local authorities and design and technology businesses.

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
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
Design Economy 2018
Design Economy 2018

Diversity and business performance – is there a link? The 2018 design economy is 78% male, which is a higher figure than for the wider UK workforce (53% male) and has not improved since the last edition of the Design Economy in 2015. To what extent might inequalities be holding the design economy back from achieving its full value to the UK economy? To what extent might inequalities be holding the design economy back from achieving its full value to the UK economy?

Feature — 13/08/2018

Not at the heart of the NPPF but definitely in the mind We are pleased to see that design plays a much more prominent role in the revised National Planning Policy Framework. We are pleased to see that design plays a much more prominent role in the revised National Planning Policy Framework.

News — 07/08/2018

The right design for productivity Our response to the government's Business Productivity Review. Our response to the government's Business Productivity Review.

News — 23/07/2018

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
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
Design Economy 2018
Design Economy 2018

The Design Economy 2018 The Design Economy 2018 is the Design Council's report on the state of design in the UK, and its value to the economy. The Design Economy 2018 is the Design Council's report on the state of design in the UK, and its value to the economy.

Report — 26/06/2018