Charity calls on government to invest in design economy

In its report titled Design Economy 2018, the charity shows how design firms and designers are playing a more prominent role in the global economy and the fourth industrial revolution. It also highlights the impact of design far into the UK economy with the majority of its value (68 per cent) generated by designers working in sectors including aviation and automotive.

Launched at the Northern Powerhouse Exhibition on July 5, 2018, the report raises concerns that the design economy is too concentrated in London and the south east and that larger, more successful firms, are pulling away from the rest of the economy and benefiting most from design.

To counter this, the Design Council has proposed a new dedicated National Design Action Plan as part of the Industrial Strategy to ensure design sits across policies, encourages investment to drive innovation and growth, and provides ministerial level responsibilities to deliver it.