"Learning from other people's experience is so important"

Deborah Dawton, Design Business Association

Do you want to learn more about how to grow your business? Maybe you need help finding funding for your business idea? Or perhaps you simply want to know what's happening in the world of design...

This section can point you in the right direction.

We hope to make our listings of design and business advice services, organisations, events and networks the most comprehensive on the web. So if you have an event that you want to tell us about, or you think your organisation could help businesses or designers in the UK, you can contact us here

Practical help for businesses

Find out about organisations around the country that offer practical help to you and your business.

Designing Demand & Business

Designing Demand is a new national support programme to help UK businesses use design to improve performance.

British Library Business & IP Centre

The British Library Business & IP (intellectual property) Centre stocks information useful for budding innovators and entrepreneurs.

The Regional Venture Capital Funds

Funds focusing on investing in the equity gap. Each of the nine regions of England has its own RVCF.

Practical help for designers

Find out about forthcoming programmes and courses around the country that are useful to you and your business.

Creative Entrepreneurs Club

A membership network for the creative industries in Scotland. It brings together designers, creatives, analysts, stylists, musicians, architects and cultural academics to network, pitch their new ideas, listen to inspiring speakers and showcase their work.

Naked Wales

Naked Wales is a networking organisation for designers based in Wales.

Events and competitions

Search our listings of events to see what's going on in your area. We also list national and international design competitions.

Survival Skills for Start-up Companies in the Creative Industries

Centre for Creative Business has developed a new course targeted specifically at creative start-ups that have been in business for at least a year.

Business of Design Week

Bringing the best of the global design industry to Hong Kong, Business of Design Week (BODW) is Asia’s leading international conference dedicated to design, brand and innovation.

Networks

Looking for a networking event or group near you? We have listings of events and organisations that enable businesses and designers to get togther.

Eyebeam

Created by the Eyebeam Open Lab in New York, a not-for-profit arts and technology centre, dedicated to public domain research and development, this blog engages cultural dialogue at the intersection of the arts and sciences.

Design Taxi

A website from Singapore dishing up design essentials as well as offering a platform for showcasing portfolios for creatives around the world.

Organisations

Find out about organisations that are useful to you and your business, as well as museums, galleries and cultural organisations.

AIGA

AIGA is a US-based association of professional designers.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is Scotland's first dedicated national centre for architecture and design, opened in July 1999.

Programmes and courses

Search our listings of training courses and business growth programmes.

Shoutout

Provides resources and networking opportunities for creative practitioners and businesses across the East Midlands.

Promoting Innovation

Programme for businesses in the West Midlands to improve performance and sustainability by encouraging more innovative approaches to doing business.