If you want information about using design, facts and figures about the UK design industry, or information on particular design disciplines or sectors, you can find it here.

Our world-class resource has in-depth information on design and business issues and opportunities, written by recognised experts, as well as information for students and educators.

You can also listen to podcasts and see recent design-related stories from the press.

Is there a design information resource that you’d like to see here? We will be adding to this section regularly, and would like to hear your ideas. You can contact us using this suggestion page.


Business media round up

 

Read the latest design and innovation stories from the international business media


The Observer logo

Stubble trouble

Published 09 Oct 2007

Simon Garfield takes a wry look at the vibrating, rubberised, five-blade world of cutting edge razor technology.

A smarter way to keep bike thieves at bay

by Richard Morrison, The Times

Published 05 Oct 2007

Portsmouth University students road test new technology designed to reduce bicycle theft.

Red missed

by Stephen Bayley, The Times

Published 05 Oct 2007

Design critic Stephen Bayley considers the rise of communist chic.

Podcasts and downloads

 

View all Design Council podcasts and downloads

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Featured

podcastSustainability and cradle to cradle design

BBC Radio 3 logo

Dr Antonia Ward
31 May 2007
Duration: 16 mins
Size: 14MB

BBC Radio 3 Nightwaves - Matthew Sweet’s interview with Michael Braungart on cradle to cradle thinking is followed by a discussion on sustainable design with the Design Council's Dr Antonia Ward and architecture critic Hugh Pearman.

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Design in...

 

Not sure how design can help your business? Read our guides to using design in your sector, with practical ideas and real-life examples of design being used for business success


Fastfind personal location beacon by London Associates for McMurdo

Design in... manufacturing

Manufacturing is a challenging sector to be in. But there are design solutions to many of the problems smaller manufacturing companies are currently facing.

Design in... retail

Are you worried that your shop isn't making as much money as it should? Are you sure your customers can easily find their way around the store? Does your shop stand out against the competition? Discover how design might be able to help you solve some of these common retail challenges

All sectors

Business essentials

 

What are the latest issues affecting businesses? What's new in the world of design thinking? Find out here in our collection of essential information for businesses


Innovation by Bettina von Stamm

Are you continuously challenging the status quo within your business? Bettina von Stamm reveals how successful companies commercially exploit ideas Innovation is what most companies rely on to fuel business growth. After all, in a competitive economic climate, can you really afford to rely on business as usual?

Ralph Ardill

Ralph Ardill

Founder, The Brand Experience Consultancy

True innovation is not just about changing a product, a service or even a marketplace. It’s also about recognising and relishing the need to change yourself.

Emerging technology by Peter Davies

Almost everything that is designed is influenced by the latest developments in technology. Peter Davies investigates how designers react to emerging technologies and explains how they can be integrated into the design process to give products that essential competitive edge

Related: New product development Bio- and nanotechnology

More business essentials

All issues

Design disciplines

 

From product design to retail interiors, find out about design with our guides from international experts


Automotive design by Chris Clements and Dr Samantha Porter

Automotive design is a complicated discipline. Although primarily concerned with the appearance of a vehicle, it is governed by various factors including security, safety and engineering - all of which have their own set of specialists. This means that as well as designing to very high standards, automotive designers must have excellent teamworking and communication skills Chris Clements and Dr...

Related: Product/industrial design Engineering design Structural packaging

Lamborghini Miura by Marcello Gandini/Bertone

Information design by Sue Walker and Mark Barratt

By co-ordinating a range of design, language, evaluation and technical skills, information designers play a vital role in making complex information easy to understand and use Sue Walker and Mark Barratt look at the challenges facing the information design profession today and assess future trends

Related: Graphic design Communication design Corporate identity and branding

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Facts and figures

 

Look up and download facts and figures on design in the UK, and learn more about our research


Map of the UK and Northern Ireland

Design Industry Research

Our research presents the most comprehensive picture yet of the UK's design industry

The Value of Design Factfinder

Businesses which use design perform better than their rivals. There’s unmistakeable proof of that in our Value of Design Factfinder, a unique online information tool (previously published as Design in Britain)

More research

Resources for design teachers and students

 

Primary, secondary and further education teachers, as well as design and business lecturers, can find information here on teaching and learning about design in all manner of disciplines and sectors


Ideaplay

Ideaplay logo

Teaching students the value of design Ideaplay is an interactive design workshop and idea generation kit aimed at students of all ages, developed by design consultancy Engine in conjunction with the Design Council.


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Design techniques

 

Find up-to-date thinking on a range of techniques used by designers


Apple iPod

User-centred design by Alison Black

The most successful designs come from understanding the needs of the people that use them. Alison Black gives an insight into how a user-centred approach can lead to innovative products and services that deliver real consumer benefit. Some products such as the Post it note are born after a ‘Eureka’ moment but most see the light of day only after a period market testing and user research....

Related: inclusive design customer and user satisfaction ergonomics

Ergonomics by Gary Davis

If you thought ergonomics was just common sense, think again. Gary Davis explains how ergonomics research can be used throughout the design process to ensure that products and services are safe, workable and as user-focused as possible - reducing business risk and potentially increasing profits

Related: Customer and user satisfaction New product development Choosing a design solution

More design techniques