Coronavirus sick pay scheme opens for small businesses
The amount on offer from the government is worth nearly £200 per employee, according to a statement from HM Treasury and may benefit design studios with less than 250 employees.
UK Government announces Cultural Renewal Taskforce
Representatives from the UK’s arts and culture spheres will meet weekly to discuss ways to help get the sector “up and running again”.
UK will seek unregistered design rights protection across EU in Brexit negotiations
The move would give UK designers protection against copying across all EU member states, something that had previously not been assured in the withdrawal bill.
The return to work – what design businesses should know about the law
As design businesses consider an eventual return to the studio, we explore the legal information that employers and employees need to know.
How good design could make coronavirus contact tracing apps more popular
The UK’s attempt to launch a contact tracing app has attracted criticism over privacy and technical performance. Design might provide an answer.
Furlough scheme extended to October – everything designers need to know
The chancellor’s billion-pound scheme will continue to support workers, but will soon shift to encourage a gradual return to work.
“Where there was certainty, there is doubt”: designers on lockdown messaging
The government’s communications around easing lockdown measures has attracted criticism for a lack of clarification. Designers give us their verdict.
89% of design businesses have or are contemplating furloughing staff
Businesses are also increasingly thinking about redundancies, and other design firms are using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to take stock of operations.
What are Bounce Back Loans? What designers need to know
The latest coronavirus support package announced by the government aims to help the country’s smallest businesses with “fast-track finance”.
Designers across the world unite in support of climate action on Earth Day
Mate Act Now is a “digital protest” which sees the likes of Pentagram, DesignStudio and Grafik “raise a collective middle finger” to climate change.
Chancellor announces £1.25 billion support for R&D businesses and start-ups
The package consists of a £500 million loan scheme for “high-growth firms”, and a £750 million fund for grants and loans to R&D-focused SMEs.
Visualising the invisible: how medical illustrators help us understand viruses
The world’s understanding of the coronavirus has been shaped by the creativity of medical illustrators – here’s how they do it.
Design Week poll: Majority of designers have lost more than 75% of business
We surveyed readers to find out how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting designers and how businesses have interacted with the help on offer from the government.
Freelancer campaign targets “inadequate” coronavirus government support
Advocacy groups and businesses, including the Creative Industries Federation, have written an open letter to the UK government.
Innovate UK to invest £20m in coronavirus R&D “resilience” projects
Businesses with innovative solutions to the country’s urgent needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be awarded up to £50,000 to further develop their ideas.
Craig Oldham designs poster showcasing solidarity with Key Workers
Just months ago, the people now hailed as “Key Workers” were labelled “unskilled” – now, Manchester-based designer Oldham wants us to remember their value long after the pandemic ends.
Take our coronavirus business impact survey
Design Week wants to know how you’ve been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and whether you’ve been able to interact with the government’s financial support packages.
UN turns to graphic designers to spread information on coronavirus
As coronavirus continues to affect the world, the United Nations is the latest organisation to recognise the important role creatives can play in relaying critical public health messages.
SME coronavirus loan scheme update: what designers need to know
After promising earlier this week to “overhaul” the business support plan currently in place, chancellor Rishi Sunak has revealed a key change to the scheme that should help smaller design
The NHS is using data to fight coronavirus
The UK’s health service has enlisted the help of some of the world’s tech giants to build a centralised data platform to provide NHS staff and practitioners with vital information