Design Economy: Driving Good Growth across the UK

Senior ERC Research Associate Neha Prashar was part of the collaborative research team contributing to this latest Design Council report.

Since the last edition of Design Economy in 2022, the UK has faced significant economic,technological and geopolitical change. From inflationary pessures and energy insecurity to rapid advances in artificial intelligence andshifting global markets, organisations have had to adapt at pace. At the same time, there is renewed focus across government on long-term growth, productivity and regional prosperity. As policymakers seek to strengthen the UK’s industrial base and spread opportunity more evenly across the country, organisations will need better ways to turn innovation into real-world outcomes.

This report focuses on the economic value of design. It shows that the design economy is growing faster than the wider UK economy, supporting employment, productivity and growth in every nation and region of the UK. From identifying opportunities and understanding user needs, to development, delivery and continuous improvement, and finally disassembly and re-use – design contributes at every stage of innovation.

The full report is available for download here