As part of that announcement, the Design Council also revealed that a dedicated display of all Millennium Products will be installed at the Millennium Experience at Greenwich.

Millennium Products will be represented on a specially landscaped structure called ‘The Spiral of Innovation,’ which will sit next to the Dome and command dramatic views of the Thames.

The month-long exhibition in Barnsley - to which entry is free - will preview some of these exciting products and services in a visually stimulating display created by the Design Council.

Among the Millennium Products on display in Barnsley are:

• Bursford Aerodome, a uniquely aerodynamic cycling helmet made from advanced carbon composite materials used in cutting edge aerospace and Formula 1 development;

• Jack, a funky piece of modern, multi-functional furniture by leading designer Tom Dixon which is a lamp, chair, table and stackable art piece all-in-one;

• Pegasus Pushchair, an all terrain pushchair which enables parents to take their offspring cross-country;

• Hot Springs, a highly original and stylish radiator which is coiled like an enormous spring;

• Tactile Colour Geographical Jigsaws, printed with textured colours to enable blind and partially sighted students to learn about the world.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have a chance to try out the Sharing Innovation database which has been created by the Design Council to help people understand

the process of innovation. This web-based project unpacks the innovation stories behind hundreds of Millennium Products to explore the Eureka! moment.

There will be other interesting interactive exhibits including, for younger visitors, Educational Toys which have been designed for children as young as 9 months.

To coincide with the exhibition, the Barnsley Design Centre is also hosting a half day conference entitled ‘Managing innovation and competitiveness though creativity’ on Thursday 28 October. Featuring high profile speakers, the event will be part of Design in Business Week ’99.

Design Council Chief Executive Andrew Summers said today: ‘Through Millennium Products, we hope to fire the imagination of all those involved in innovation and design as well as revealing an insight into the creative powerhouse which is at the heart of UK plc.’