Design is fundamental to both business and society. Our aim, as we move forward under a new strategic plan, is to ensure that design receives the recognition it deserves.
Terry Tyrrell, Chair, Design Council
Annual reports
Our Annual Reports highlight our achievements, outline both our income and expenditure and include a brief review of our performance against our purpose and objectives.
- Design Council Annual Report 2019-20 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2018-19 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2017-18 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2016-17 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2015-16 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2014-15 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2013-14 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2012-13 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2011-12 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2010-11 (.pdf)
- Design Council Annual Report 2009-10 (.pdf)
Funding
We are an independent charity and the government’s advisor on design. Our income is derived from a combination of grants, partnerships and commissioned, paid-for services.
A key element of our activities is a grant programme we deliver for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This grant is to make the case and grow the market for design in areas of the economy where it is underused. We do this by growing the evidence base on the value and impact of design and using our national remit to provide knowledge and insight on design from across the country. For full details of our accounts, please see our annual reports above.
Trustees
We are governed by an unpaid board of trustees. They set our strategic direction, monitor the delivery of our objectives, and uphold our values and governance. They also guide, advise and support our Chief Executive, who leads the senior management team towards achieving our vision and purpose. The Chair of the board of trustees is Terry Tyrrell.