Design Council Statement causes turbulence

You can’t blame the Design Council for wanting to promote UK design. This is, after all, a key part of its remit from the Government.

But the council’s keenness to push UK involvement in the design of the A3XX superjumbo proved an enthusiasm too far for international backer Airbus Industrie.

With German, French and Spanish interests also involved, it could hardly be described as the UK triumph the council was claiming, despite the involvement of the likes of Priestman Goode and Ideo (DW 30 June).

There are reports that an overly nationalistic press release had to be pulled – at the instigation of Airbus’ half-British, half-German A3XX marketing director Bob Lange, who also has a French family.