Sir George Cox, Chairman of the Design Council, the national strategic body for design, will join leaders from around the world to look at ways in which design can help meet global challenges.
Speaking at three workshops, Sir George, alongside some of the most influential names in the design world, will address the following key issues:
- Innovation and Design Strategy: how business, government and civil society are applying creativity and design to the rapidly changing global landscape.
- Pioneering Cities: the new centres of global creativity and how innovation and creative vision can project a city into global leadership.
- What Creativity can do for business: what will distinguish tomorrow’s leading companies from today’s and what are the driving forces for this change.
Commenting on the programme, Sir George said: ‘Understanding design and its capabilities is vital if we are to tackle global challenges effectively, so I am delighted that design is finally getting the recognition it deserves at the World Economic Forum. The UK has a world-renowned reputation for creative leadership and design skill and it will be valuable to compare our perspective with how other countries perceive such skills in meeting global challenges.’
Dr Hilary Cottam, Director of the Design Council’s pioneering RED unit and Designer of the Year 2005, will also be speaking. As part of her new role as a Young Global Leader, Hilary will be joining corporate leaders to discuss the importance of creative thinking and innovation in today’s economy as well as looking at ways in which design principles can be leveraged to improve productivity.
The conference follows the publication last year of the Cox Review, a report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Sir George Cox, investigating what more the Government could do to enhance UK business productivity through creativity and design
The Design Council is the national strategic body for design. It works to strengthen and support the UK economy and society by inspiring and enabling the best use of design. www.designcouncil.org.uk
For further information please contact Saskia Sissons on 020 7420 5248 or email saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk