Design Council Product Development

Design Council Spark Product Development

Design Council Spark is changing!

In 2014, Design Council launched Spark – a product innovation programme and fund. Over the last five years, Spark has helped some of the UK’s most promising entrepreneurs to fast-track their products to market.

As we enter a new decade, we are keen to build on the successes of Design Council Spark. We have now begun work to develop a new and improved innovation programme to help the UK’s brightest minds tackle some of the biggest societal and technological challenges in our rapidly changing world.

If you’d like to receive updates on this exciting new programme, please sign up to our newsletter.

Meet the Spark finalists 2019 This year, another 10 ventures are selected as Design Council Spark programme finalists. Their challenge was to come up with bright ideas for independent living, that will make life at home easier and better for all. Read on to find out about the products that will be refined and transformed over... This year, another 10 ventures are selected as Design Council Spark programme finalists.

Feature — 23/07/2019

Great innovation is the beating heart of the UK economy, designing our future through world leading products that not only change lives but break new ground, build businesses, jobs, and grow the UK economy.
Sarah Weir OBE, Chief Executive, Design Council

Our previous programmes:

If you’re interested in partnering with us on product development, please visit our ‘Partner with us’ page and send us a message!

Inspiration

TickleFLEX: The Design Council Spark awardee whose device for diabetics has revolutionised... As someone with Type 1 diabetes, Peter Bailey is only too aware of the daily, often uncomfortable, challenges of self-injecting insulin. So he came up with the TickleFLEX, a product that controls the needle depth and blocks the pain pathways, and which saw him become a finalist of Design Council... 2016 finalist Peter Bailey talks about being diabetic, the power of positive feedback and why Spark was a springboard to his success.

Feature — 28/02/2019

Meet the Design Council Spark awardee bringing style to independent living, one DRINK at a time Fiona Jarvis is on a crusade to redefine disability with style. Being a finalist of Design Council Spark in 2017 has helped her on this journey, providing the perfect opportunity to develop her idea of a glass holder for disabled people into a commercially viable product. Fiona Jarvis is on a crusade to redefine disability with style.

Feature — 06/02/2019

Design Council Spark finalist Rhinamite – an idea for stopping nosebleeds is set to help... When junior doctor Wendy Minks encountered the recurring problem of patients with nosebleeds, she devised Rhinamite – a nose clip specially designed to deal with the issue. Now, thanks to Design Council Spark, the 2016 awardee is well on the way to bringing it to market – for use not just in... When junior doctor Wendy Minks encountered the recurring problem of patients with nosebleeds, she devised Rhinamite.

Feature — 13/02/2019

Design Council Spark finalist Geoff Rolandsen has the key to easing everyday activities When Geoff Rolandsen discovered his elderly father was having difficulties unlocking doors, he designed a device that would make using keys easier for those with reduced dexterity. A device to make using keys easier for those with reduced dexterity.

Feature — 20/02/2019

How Design Council Spark kick-started a difficult design project We spoke to Nick Rawcliffe, a mechanical engineer who joined the Spark programme with his innovative folding cycle helmet. We spoke to Nick Rawcliffe, a mechanical engineer who joined the Spark programme with his innovative folding cycle helmet.

Feature — 01/02/2018

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

Feature — 29/09/2017

Advice

How Design Council Spark kick-started a difficult design project We spoke to Nick Rawcliffe, a mechanical engineer who joined the Spark programme with his innovative folding cycle helmet. We spoke to Nick Rawcliffe, a mechanical engineer who joined the Spark programme with his innovative folding cycle helmet.

Feature — 01/02/2018

Design Council Spark FAQs Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here! Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here!

Feature — 02/02/2019

Design Council Spark: An opportunity for all Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public. Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public.

Feature — 25/10/2017

Crowdfunding: changing how you bring a product to market Jess Ratty, Brand Communications Manager at Crowdfunder, discusses how you can use crowdfunding platforms to bring your product to market. Jess Ratty, Brand Communications Manager at Crowdfunder, discusses how you can use crowdfunding platforms to bring your product to market.

Feature — 26/05/2015

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

Feature — 29/09/2017

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

Feature — 16/10/2019

Contact Us

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Design Council Spark Product Development

Our previous programmes:

Contact

The Spark Team, Design Council

Inspiration

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

Advice

Design Council Spark FAQs Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here! Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here!

Design Council Spark: An opportunity for all Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public. Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public.

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

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

Contact Us

Follow us

Design Council Spark Product Development

You are here

Our previous programmes:

Contact

The Spark Team, Design Council

Inspiration View more Inspiration

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

Advice View more Advice

Design Council Spark FAQs Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here! Have a question about Design Council Spark? The answer is probably here!

Design Council Spark: An opportunity for all Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public. Our core belief at Design Council Spark is that anybody can have a life changing idea that will benefit the public.

Stand out from the crowd – what makes a successful Spark application? Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application. Find out more about what we look for in a successful Spark application.

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

Inspiration

Advice