Design Economy
Discover the economic, social and environmental value of design in the UK.
What is Design Economy?
Design Economy is the UK’s most comprehensive exploration of the value of design: economic, social, and environmental.
Published every three years by the Design Council, it’s the only research of its kind, offering data-driven insights into the role of design in driving growth, fostering sustainability, and shaping a fairer future.
Building on a legacy of ground-breaking reports, the latest research, carried out across 2021 to 2024, pushes boundaries by spotlighting how design can power the green transition and address pressing skills gaps. As the Design Council celebrates 80 years of championing innovation, Design Economy takes centre stage in revealing how design can help build a just, regenerative, and thriving UK economy.
2025
The Environmental and Social Value of Design
Case studies
Explore a selection of our most recent green design business case studies, showcasing innovative approaches to sustainability across various industries. From regenerative urban planning to zero-waste craftsmanship, these stories highlight the tangible impact of sustainable design. For extended versions and even more inspiring examples, get in touch.
Public Design Beyond Central Government
How is design transforming public services beyond Whitehall? This report draws on Design Economy research data and the Design Council’s long-standing experience supporting innovation in the public sector to explore the growing role of design across local authorities, the NHS, emergency services, and more. Packed with insights from practitioners and real-world examples, it shows how design is helping to deliver better outcomes for people, places, and public systems — even in the face of shrinking budgets. It sets out what’s working, what’s getting in the way, and what needs to happen next.
2024
The Green Design Skills Gap
2022
People, Places and Economic Value (2021–2024 report)
2021
The Design Value Framework
The Design Value Framework
We have developed a framework for designers and commissioners to identify and assess the wider social, environmental and democratic impacts of their work.
The framework builds on design sector specific tools, and provides, for the first time, a single framework for the whole of the design economy to use together, and across a holistic set of values.
2018
Design Economy
Design Economy 2018
Designing a Future Economy
2015
Design Economy
Design Economy 2015
Work with us
Use design to unlock opportunities, solve complex challenges and grow capability.
Design for Planet
This is our mission and a call to action to put the planet at the heart of design.
Resources
Explore resources for designers and non-designers to learn about how to design inclusively and for our planet.
Our book
Discover the designs, designers and Design Council initiatives that have shaped British design history over eight transformational decades.
Support us
As the UK’s national charity for design and its critical role in effecting change, we need your help.
Skills for Planet Training
Upskill your organisations with green design skills for the future.