2000

The Design Council

Sir Christopher Frayling, Rector and Vice Provost of the Royal College of Art, was announced as the new chairman of the Design Council. He took over the post when John Sorrell stood down at the end of March 2000 after more than six years as chairman.

An international touring exhibition of Millennium Products was co-developed by the Design Council and The British Council. In Warsaw, its first destination, it attracted 20,000 visitors in two weeks. Promoting our innovation and creativity abroad challenged stereotypes about the UK.

'Better by Design' - a highly successful six-part Channel 4 series was commissioned by the Design Council and saw the return to our screens of product designers Richard Seymour and Dick Powell, once again trying to come up with design-led solutions to the age-old problems presented by everyday objects. The series followed on from the 1998 'Designs on your...' series.

Probably one of the most exciting - and frightening -scientific breakthroughs was made - a rough draft of the genes of the human body…in other words a 'blueprint'.

A mixture of poor business models, fierce competition and weak advertising markets pushed many initially lucrative start-up dot.coms to the brink - stocks lost value and share prices plummeted.

The United States took 35 days to decide which presidential candidate had won the election. After problems with voting machines resulted in recounts, a legal wrangle in both the Florida and U.S. supreme courts, George W. Bush was finally awarded the Presidency.

James Dyson launched the Contrarotator. Will the washing machine follow the incredible success of his Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner…?

The new Great Court designed by Foster and Partners opened at The British Museum.

The Design Business Association awarded their Grand Prix Design Effectiveness award to the team of consultants behind the Heathrow Express train. The fast rail link to Heathrow airport also won in the Design Management category.