Other meanings of Design Council
Design & Innovation
The Design Council is a UK charity and the national strategic body for design, established in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design to improve British manufacturing and exports through better design. It has evolved from a wartime initiative into a global authority on design-led innovation, known for its influential frameworks such as the Double Diamond and its role in shaping public policy and business practice.
The Design Council was founded in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design (CoID) by the British government, with Hugh Dalton as its first president and Gordon Russell as its first director. Its initial purpose was to raise the standard of design in British industry to boost exports in the post-war period. The CoID organized the 'Britain Can Make It' exhibition in 1946, which attracted over 1.4 million visitors and showcased the nation's design capabilities. In 1951, it played a central role in the Festival of Britain, further cementing design as a national priority. The council's early work focused on educating manufacturers and the public about the economic value of good design, a mission that remains central today.
In 1972, the CoID was renamed the Design Council, reflecting a broader remit that included engineering and environmental design. The council gained charitable status in 2011, becoming an independent charity while retaining its royal charter. One of its most enduring contributions is the Double Diamond model, developed in 2005 with the UK Design Council, which visualizes the design process as four phases: discover, define, develop, and deliver. This framework has been adopted worldwide by designers and organizations. The council also introduced the 'Design Methods' toolkit and the 'Systemic Design' framework, which address complex challenges such as climate change and public health. These tools have made the council a global reference point for design thinking.
Today, the Design Council works with businesses, governments, and communities to apply design to economic and social challenges. Its 'Design Economy' research, first published in 2015, quantifies the contribution of design to the UK economy, showing that design-intensive businesses outperform others in productivity and growth. The council also runs the 'Design for Planet' initiative, which supports sustainable design practices, and the 'Design in the Public Sector' program, which helps public services innovate. Its annual 'Design Council Spark' competition funds early-stage product ideas, and its 'Design Leadership' programs train executives in design-led strategy. The council's influence extends beyond the UK, with its frameworks and research cited in international policy and academic literature.
Beyond its well-known initiatives, the Design Council has a rich history of lesser-known contributions. In the 1950s, it established the 'Design Centre' in London, a public exhibition space that ran until 1994 and featured a 'Design Index' of approved products. The council also published the influential magazine 'Design' from 1949 to 1994, which chronicled British design. Its 'Design Council Archive' at the University of Brighton preserves photographs, reports, and records of its activities. The council has also been involved in niche areas such as 'design for disability', producing guidelines in the 1970s for accessible products. Additionally, it has collaborated with the NHS on 'design-led innovation' in healthcare, and its 'Design for Ageing' program addressed the needs of an aging population. These efforts highlight the council's long-standing commitment to inclusive and socially responsible design.
The Design Council's archive is held at the University of Brighton, providing a rich resource for researchers.
Help improve the encyclopedia. Reports go straight to the site manager.