Design Council Forum lobbies for government design strategy

By Angus Montgomery December 2, 2011 4:26 pm January 29, 2015 8:19 pm

The first Design Council Forum has narrowly decided by vote that the Government should form a design strategy.

Ben Page

Almost 100 leaders in design, business, government and education were brought together and formed a narrow 54.2 per cent majority in favour of the motion.

It is hoped by the Design Council that strategy will follow ‘a national vision’ developed by the Design Council with industry, business, and education representatives.

Electronic voting took place over the course of a live event which saw speakers Tim Bradshaw head of Enterprise and Innovation at CBI, and Ruth Reed president of RIBA argue in favour of, ‘Should the government have a design strategy?’

Arguing against was Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos MORI, and Laura Haynes, president of the Design Business Association.

In the event, Page and Haynes may have proved persuasive – although not persuasive enough – with 71.8 per cent starting the debate in favour of the motion.

A separate vote shows 75 per cent supported the proposal ‘Does the UK need an integrated design vision first?’

A broad consensus shows that any forthcoming strategy should be ‘joined up across all Government departments, be actionable specific, and encompass government procurement as well as other levers outside government for delivering the vision,’ according to the Design Council.

A Design Council spokesman says it is not yet known how the Design Council ‘would go about’ lobbying for government take-up.

‘We’re really looking to set out a vision, and are looking at how others like Denmark have done it,’ adds the spokesman.