Envisioned as part think-tank, part centre of excellence, the design academy will also point the way towards future skills development and work to increase industry competitiveness by partnering leading thinkers and innovators.
A design academy is one of nine recommendations developed by the industry-led skills panel in consultation with more than 4,000 designers and educators over the past two years. Aimed at those currently working in the design industry and in design education, the report encapsulates the design industry’s own analysis of its current skills.
The plan, which is available from our publications page online or at ukdesignskills.com, aims to ensure that the UK design industry both maintains and extends its position as a world leader by focusing on the development of high level skills. It makes specific recommendations to address the skills gaps identified for three groups across the sector: schools, colleges and universities and the design industry.
The recommendations to improve design education in schools are:
- A programme of designers working with schools
- A design mark to recognise teaching excellence
- A teacher development scheme.
The recommendations for colleges and universities are:
- A network of visiting design professors to connect higher education with professional practice
- Joined-up promotion of multi-disciplinary programmes
- A web-based career and course information service.
The recommendations for industry are:
- A UK design academy to establish industry standards
- A professional practice framework
- A professional development campaign to improve skills.
Jonathan Sands, Chair of the Design Skills Advisory Panel, said: ‘This plan is a powerful and realistic strategy for improvement. We have a world-leading, globally celebrated design industry – let’s keep it that way by ensuring we have the skills for the future.’
The Design Skills Advisory Panel is a group of 25 design industry experts convened by the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills to inform their employer-led skills strategy. Their plan will form part of a ‘Creative Blueprint’ – the creative industries sector skills agreement which will be presented to government early in 2008.
Upgrading the UK’s skills base is a top priority for government. Last month Barry Sheerman MP, Chair of the Education and Skills Select Committee, tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament that commends the work of the Design Skills Advisory Panel, and has so far garnered more than 50 cross-party signatures.
The Motion states that ‘our world leading creativity and design skills…are underutilised by UK industry’ and calls on ‘Members of both Houses to support initiatives that aim to boost high-level skills that contribute added value to the economy.’
‘High-Level Skills for Higher Value’ is available to download from our publications page and at: www.ukdesignskills.com
For more information please contact Saskia Sissons at the Design Council on 020 7420 5248, saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk or Miles Fletcher at Creative and Cultural Skills on 020 7015 1812, miles.fletcher@ccskills.org.uk
1. The Design Industry Skills Development Plan is a comprehensive report on the status of skills development within the UK’s design industry. It will inform Creative & Cultural Skills’ ‘Creative Blueprint’, the Sector Skills Agreement to be presented to government early next year.
2. The Design Skills Advisory Panel is a group of 25 design industry experts convened by the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills to inform their employer-led skills strategy. Chaired by Jonathan Sands with David Worthington as Deputy Chair, it comprises representatives from across the UK design industry, including design businesses, freelance designers, in-house designers, design organisations and educators.
3. The Plan is the result of two years of consultation with and by the Design Skills Advisory Panel and will be available online next month. It targets design professionals and design students at various stages in their development, starting in schools, continuing in colleges and universities, and working through our professional bodies to provide ongoing professional development.
4. The Design Council is the UK’s national strategic body for design. It aims to strengthen and support the economy and society by demonstrating and promoting the vital role of design in making businesses more competitive and public services more effective. www.designcouncil.org.uk
5. Creative & Cultural Skills is the UK Sector Skills Council for the creative and cultural industries, which include advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts. Like all Sector Skills Councils, Creative & Cultural Skills is employer-led and works to improve the education, training and skills available to the sector to ensure that the UK remains economically competitive. www.ccskills.org.uk