Design
D E S I G N
Design enables innovation. It is the process that links creativity and innovation. It provides a process for understanding user needs, translates them into creative ideas and matches them with market opportunities. Design can also reduce the risks inherent in the innovation process by making it possible to test ideas rapidly, realising them inexpensively through visualisation and prototyping early on in the development process and before major spending is committed.
Design and Growth
Design can be transformative for companies in leading or supporting product and process innovation, for managing the innovation process itself, for the commercialisation of science, and the delivery of public services. A key part of our future economic growth will depend on commercialising innovative ideas for products and services, and on growing new markets for UK businesses. At the Design for Growth Summit in June 2011, David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, committed the Government to putting design at the heart of its plans for economic growth in the UK.
For more information about the Summit and to read and hear David Willetts’ speech follow this link:
Design Summit - Rt. Hon David Willetts MP on accelerating innovation
What BIS is doing to encourage the use and exploitation of design
BIS continues to fund the Design Council which is the national strategic body for design. The Design Council advises government on design in national policy and is one of the Department's partner organisations.
Among its activities, the Design Council delivers the following practical design mentoring programmes for both the private and public sector:
Designing Demand - a design mentoring service for small and medium sized enterprises which helps them to become more innovative, competitive and profitable. This programme is one of the Department’s Solutions for Business products.
Public Services by Design - a mentoring and coaching programme for public sector professionals which helps them to innovate to deliver innovative customer-focused services and solve complex public service issues.
Innovate for Universities - helps UK universities learn how to exploit the commercial potential of their scientific and technological discoveries for competitive advantage and to attract private investment.
In addition to the above programmes, the Design Council carries out research on the design industry and design use and works to help solve some of society’s problems, namely through its open innovation “Challenges”. (Eg, Violence and Aggression in A&E Wards, reducing infection in hospital wards, ways of making life easier for people living with Dementia).
For further information about the above mentoring programmes visit the Design Council website at: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/support/
To find out about BIS Innovation Partner Organisations, follow this link: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/innovation/innovation-infrastructure-partners
For information on other types of assistance for small and medium sized businesses, follow this link: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/solutions-for-business-simplified-business-support
And also visit the Businesslink website at: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk
Design - Facts and Figures
• The 2010 Design Council design sector survey calculated that there were approximately 230,000 designers – making it the largest design industry in Europe with a turnover of approx £15bn.
• 54% of companies surveyed by the Design Council in 2008 thought design would contribute to a large or great extent in helping maintain their competitive edge during the recession.
• The proportion of firms who regard design as integral to their operation has doubled since 2005 to 30%; 52% of rapidly growing firms regard design as significant to their operation, compared with 22% static ones; the average rate of return on design projects among UK firms was 15%. (Source: Design Council National Survey of Firms 2008).
• An in-depth “Value of Design” survey of 503 businesses showed that every £100 a design-alert business spends on design increases turnover by £225. (Source: Design Council “Value of Design” Factfinder report – 2007).
• Design-aware companies outperformed the FTSE 100 and FTSE All Share Indices by more than 200% over ten years between 1995 and 2004. (Source: Design Council, The Impact of Design on Stock Market Performances – 2004).
