Let’s get round the campfire and keep it burning
After speaking at a Design Council debate at the V&A in London last month, which brought industry support organisations from across the country together to discuss the way forward for the UK design sectors - a number of questions were raised in my mind.
Firstly, in this time of uncertainty it’s critical we work even more closely together to unite behind the same vision and objectives for our industry. This will allow us to coherently project the benefits and impact that the design industry has to offer the UK economy, at a time when it really needs a boost.
I appreciate this will not be easy, particularly with a more decentralised picture of the UK design industry and its various communities across the country. Each community has its own regional networks and their own unique concerns and challenges. However we also have common issues and goals and we have to find a way to collectively come together to champion these with one voice.
The Design Council plan, which was outlined at the debate in London, ranges from grass roots education to continual professional development programmes for design professionals. If we can look beyond our own regional issues and focus on these fundamental concerns we can build a stronger more united design community. I just hope that the Government cuts this month will not undermine the Design Council and the momentum it has gained towards addressing these central issues.
Secondly, why is it that Government does not appear to value, support and look to nurture a discipline that we are so renowned for internationally? This constantly puzzles me. We export fantastic design talent all over the world and our reputation for leading design trends that have shaped popular culture through iconic brands is well documented.
We need to come together and educate our new government at this critical time, seize it as an opportunity and demonstrate our talent and potential to lead the global creative industry sector and help support the economic fight back.