Product design puts proposals to industry

The Product Design Coalition, backed by the British Design Initiative, meets this week to prepare its proposals for the design industry.

The 72-member group intends to draft a document which it will then present to the Design Business Association, the Chartered Society of Designers and the Design Council on 25 August.

The Coalition is first of all looking to tackle two key issues which it says are critical first steps to improving the lot of British product designers. “At this point in time we realise we can’t solve all the issues facing product designers so we have identified two critical issues. Namely, how product designers are represented by the various [industry] bodies, and how to raise the profile of the sector,” says BDI chief executive Maxine Horn.

The issue of representation is seen as being mainly about improving client understanding and perception of the role of product design consultancies. Steps can then by taken to improve their image.