As part of our 70th year celebrations, we explored how design is moving into new and uncharted areas, reaching deeper into core business processes and tackling urgent social problems – key issues that will drive the Design Economy of the future.
The series asks: In an age of austerity, rising inequality, urbanisation and ageing populations, climate change, the redefinition of the role of the state, big data and ubiquitous surveillance, how are we, as a society, to assess the risks and opportunities found in design’s ascendency?
How realistic are the claims being made for new transformational design disciplines? Are they overly optimistic – or perhaps overly cautious?
What are the challenges and the key questions, the obstacles and opportunities, for citizens and leaders?
Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves serious questions about how design is transforming our world – questions about design’s limits, values and ethics – before it’s too late?
The Design Economy Report
Download our 2015 The Design Economy Report for detailed analysis of design's contribution to the UK economy.
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