Design Council partners TSB to drive innovation

The Design Council is linking with the Technology Strategy Board in a partnership which aims to strengthen design’s role in innovation.

The two bodies are both funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills, and, according to Design Council chief executive David Kester, ‘share a common aspiration to drive innovation across the UK’.

Kester adds that the two organisations have always been very collaborative, and have now identified specific projects where they will be working together.

The council and the TSB will be collaborating on a Designing Out Crime project, says Kester, as well as driving technology transfer in universities, for which the council is identifying six universities and 24 research teams to work with.

As part of the relationship, the council’s deputy chief executive David Godber will meet TSB director of innovation programmes David Bott every month, while Kester will meet TSB chief executive Iain Gray on a quarterly basis. Gray says, ‘By placing design at the heart of technological innovation we will multiply the opportunities to deliver a range of shared objectives, including the chance to help UK business focus on technological innovation now, so that we are ready to emerge from the downturn in a stronger position.’

Kester adds, ‘This [partnership] will mean more opportunities for designers to be involved with major technology projects, and showcase the huge benefits which design can bring to technology-driven companies.’