Sebastian Conran calls for closer research links

Sebastian Conran is calling for more investment in postgraduate design research, and closer links between the design industry and academic research institutions.

Writing in the forthcoming issue of Design Week, Conran, managing director of Studio Conran, says the industry should establish close relationships with research institutions, similar to those in the medical and scientific industries.

He says this would allow the industry to ‘harness the emergent science-based technologies, giving them a relevance and appeal to the world’s consumers’.

He adds, ‘Leading design consultancies might also benefit from collaborating with [research institutions]. This would lead to an economy of scale that would justify otherwise unaffordable equipment and facilities, which students would benefit from too.’

Read the full article in the next issue of Design Week, out tomorrow.

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  • Ben Davies November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Interesting timing in light of the recent BDi report. I think tapping into the ‘skill set’ is one aspect – promoting a level playing field within our industry and client space is another.

    I have two different perspectives – hindsight – (referencing my own design education at DMU under Peter Ford) what promotes the best level of design education/understanding vs. what establishes the true value of professional services.

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