£200m government fund aims to revive innovative projects threatened by coronavirus
The Sustainable Innovation fund will help keep “cutting-edge projects and ideas alive” as we exit the pandemic, according to the government.
UK creative industries projected to lose £74bn in revenue in 2020
The Creative Industries Federation has warned of a “cultural catastrophe” following the COVID-19 pandemic, with widespread job losses and revenue loss.
One million people still falling through gaps in Government aid, say MPs
Despite a promise to “do whatever it takes” a Treasury select committee says many are unable to access help, with freelancers and the self-employed among the worst affected.
This inch-sized graphic aims to get the 72 Grenfell victims back in the news
Yesterday marks three years since the west London fire that killed 72 people in their homes – this latest work for Justice4Grenfell aims to get victims’ names back on the
Furlough and freelance schemes have changed: where does this leave designers?
More details have been finalised for the “tapering” of the Government’s furlough scheme, and a further (final) payment has been scheduled for self-employed workers.
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.