The impact of Economy, people, environment

The power to transform The power to transform 2

The power of design Good design can deliver growth, sustainability, “The role of design is to improve quality of life innovation and stronger communities. and, in challenging economic times, it can Our role here at the Design Council is to enable show people another people to use design in practical ways to transform way. Through innovation and creativity we can find communities, business and the environment for tangible new solutions the better. to everyday problems.” Martin Temple CBE, Chairman We achieve this by working collaboratively with of the Design Council our clients and partners – bringing the right people together to boost creativity, shift ways of thinking and translate ideas into real products, services and solutions that benefit everyone. We make sure every pound invested in pays back even more in supporting economic growth and social and environmental progress. Here, we demonstrate how the transformative power of design makes a real impact, now and in the future. We show that good design creates things that are both beautiful and useful, and how design enriches our lives as well as meeting the challenges of the future. The power to transform 3-4

Unlocking market advantage Design impact: Our team worked with Stimulating Halifax-based business, James Heal, has James Heal, leading them through a tried a worldwide reputation for manufacturing and tested process to discover how applying testing instruments and materials for the principles of quality design thinking growth the textile industry. Exports account for to their product and their could give 95% of turnover. Copycat products and them market advantage. Guided by one of We help to grow businesses and translate price undercutting in the Far East were our Design Associates, Andy Cripps, the ideas into products and services that threatening the company’s ambitions to in-house team at James Heal developed new generate economic and social value. remain in the UK. We helped them gain a branding for their products. We also helped competitive edge through . them to devise an initiative to improve their products functionality and make them harder to copy. We work directly with businesses and public service providers and engage teams at the start of the The results: James Heal has taken a project, so they fully understand how design can leadership position in the market with a new world-class look and superior help them. Our support demonstrates the powerful product performance. effect of design on growth and efficiency now and generates a better understanding of the value it can add in the future. “Until this point, we’d never Whether we’re using design to improve business seriously considered our processes, develop new products and services brand or how to drive up or create a brand, our clients learn how design its value. What happened can help them improve efficiency and create next has had a fundamental sustainable growth. effect on us.” 37% David Repper sales increase Managing Director, James Heal over three years

Creating new ways of “To create the right opportunities developing young talent for young people, we urgently need There are a record number of young fresh thinking and new solutions. people not in education, employment or training and we are working with Nominet Young people need products and Trust to increase education and employment services that help them prepare opportunities for young people. for, find and sustain employment. Design impact: Our Working Well Design Digital technology allows us to Challenge has made up to £50,000, and explore new ways of helping them professional support available for three do just that in more meaningful teams of and youth organisations. and relevant ways.” The task is to design, build and launch new digital products and services which help Annika Small young people develop their talents and Chief Executive, Nominet Trust make a living. The power to transform 5-6

“Design isn’t something to be scared of. It’s just a new way of looking at things.” Lindsey Craig London Borough of Lewisham Policy and Strategy Officer

Right: Sean Miller holds an ideas generation session Improving lives with Lewisham staff We know that good design can improve Service delivery Better housing services Design impact: Design Associate, Sean efficiency savings of Lewisham Borough Council needed to Miller, used our people-centred design people’s health and quality of life, as well approach to solve the problem. Looking as creating products, services and places ensure its customers could find support from its emergency housing service quickly at the service from the users’ point of view to enjoy. and easily. The previous service was very and adopting new and innovative techniques, £350k rigid in its approach, resulting in unhappy such as video research and prototyping, in the first year customers and stressed staff. It had to adapt helped Lewisham Borough Council to shape the service to be more customer-focused. We collaborate with others to put people at the to meet better the needs of the people who required housing. Through design, a new heart of the design process – helping individuals The results: Happier customers, reduced way of thinking was introduced to change demand – leading to efficiency savings – learn new skills, inspiring innovative new the way the , the staff and the system and a real and positive impact on people’s products which benefit our ageing population and for meeting customers worked. encouraging people to get involved in improving everyday lives. Staff morale is up and sickness leave down. And the change is their neighbourhood. sustainable, with skills and learnings from the project team having been transferred We actively demonstrate that good design has throughout the local authority service. the power to make us healthier and happier.

Cleaning up the NHS Existing hospital furniture tends to be made Reducing the risk of infections in hospitals up of multiple parts, with complex junctions is a priority across the NHS. Hospitals need between different materials – this makes equipment and furniture that is easy to it difficult and time-consuming to clean. clean and use, while being cost effective and A simplified construction makes cleaning manageable for such a huge organisation. The the new commode quicker and easier – Design Bugs Out challenge brought together aesthetic and functional changes also designers, microbiologists, manufacturers, improve patient comfort and dignity. patients and frontline NHS staff to inspire The results: The new furniture new thinking and generate new solutions. have been tested and evaluated at eight Design impact: We led a cohort of multi- NHS hospitals after undergoing rigorous disciplinary design teams, who co-designed assessments that replicated routine a new suite of hospital furniture with NHS hospital cleaning procedures of typically staff and patients, including cabinets, chairs, contaminated hospital furniture. The an over-bed table and a commode. Each of commode is the best selling product and the new designs had to meet stringent clinical has sold over 2000 units since April 2010. Above: The commode prototype and commercial criteria, including cost, designed by Pearson Lloyd access and usability. The power to transform 7-8

Stronger communities Better homes for families Good design improves the buildings Larner Road, in the London Borough of we live in, the open spaces we use and Bexley, is one of the largest regeneration projects in London, where the social the neighbourhoods we call home. landlord Orbit Homes plans to replace six high-rise blocks with 540 family homes. The public spaces within the We work with communities to help them existing estate do not function well. create safer, more sustainable and better places Residents reported that they felt unsafe and had few opportunities to meet to live. Our work puts local people centre stage, their neighbours. challenging and enabling them to take more control over their neighbourhood. Design impact: Our Cabe team worked with a group of Larner Road residents We enable people to have a vision for their who are planning to stay on the estate. We introduced them to examples of community and then help them to get there. well designed public space in London where attention to the simple things – Creating neighbourhoods like social seating areas – can make a place feel like a home. This helped the for the future “We feel that we can residents recognise how public space Residents in Grovehill, Hemel create a place that gives in the new development could form Hempstead, are passionate about the heart of their community. their community and have been current and future working closely with Dacorum Borough residents a real sense The results: Larner Road residents, Council and the Cabe team to develop of belonging.” who at the start of the project rated a neighbourhood plan to shape the their as limited, future of their area. They want new Rosemary A long-time resident of now feel increasingly positive, and improved homes and better Larner Road and campaigner passionate and knowledgeable about community facilities for Grovehill. for improvement their new neighbourhood and their role in shaping its future. We are working with local forum, Grovehill Future, on the development of its neighbourhood plan. Our Built Environment Experts are raising awareness and sharing knowledge about the impact of good design as well as holding design-led workshops to help shape the future of their neighbourhood.

“The design led workshops captured the interest and Left: A Cabe Built Environment Expert discussing estate design imagination of the group and with Larner Road residents on an Above: Residents of Larner Road try out gave them a flavour of what inspiring trip to see other schemes more natural solutions to public seating they could achieve for their neighbourhood. As a result the group is much more focussed and motivated.” Dacorum Borough Council The power to transform 9-10

Driving innovation Right: Tinnitus Spectral Therapy technology

Encouraging healthy lifestyles, “Developing great ideas is only half the battle adapting to environmental Relief for for universities. The hard part is showing how challenges, promoting economic growth and solving these ideas can work in practice. Innovate social issues all require for Universities has helped universities 40% commercialise their research.” innovation and creativity. of tinnitus Tas Gohir sufferers University of Leicester We bring our design and business tested expertise to help develop and market exciting, life changing, successful LED Tinnitus technology Design impact: Paired with one of the Intelligent needle products and services. Our mentoring programme is funded by Design Council's Design Associates, Through our mentoring programme, Bristol the Department for Business, Innovation the university has continued developing University and Gloucester Royal Hospital We work with researchers, academics and Skills (BIS), and links universities with the technology taking user needs into were helped to bring their innovative and entrepreneurs to understand and designers to help find commercial applications consideration. It is hoped that this will Intelligent Needle product to market. This navigate the process for translating for new technologies. This attracts investment help accelerate this valuable device into needle has the potential to quickly, accurately the market place. a great idea into something that can and brings exciting new products to market. and cost effectively diagnose cancer when compared to current biopsy sampling. be taken to market. Some of our The University of Leicester, working with most impactful work has come from Orthoscopics Limited, developed a technology Design impact: Our design and business relationships with groundbreaking to provide relief from the symptoms of understanding helped researchers identify research teams changing people’s tinnitus. This uses red, green and blue LEDs and overcome barriers in turning their (light emitting diodes) tuned specifically to research project into a marketable proposition. lives through innovation. help each individual. Initial studies at Leicester have produced very promising results. The power to transform 11-12

“These innovative products have the potential Rethinking life with dementia Shaping the future to make a big difference to the quality of life Dementia is one of the biggest health and of people with dementia and their carers. social care issues we face as the population ages. Alzheimer’s bodies report over Designing for the future is essential if we are to meet the They could help people feel supported and challenges of an ageing population, environmental change 800,000 people living with the condition enable them to live independently for longer.” in the UK, with numbers expected to and economic uncertainty. double in 30 years. Whilst research into Jeremy Hughes Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society effective treatments is progressing, radical new ways to improve the quality of life Our work helps “future proof” society through sharing, influencing and for those affected, whilst simultaneously debating the role of design in solving tomorrow’s problems. We bring together reducing the burden and cost of care, are urgently needed. The Living Well With exciting collaborations and new partnerships from different sectors to enable Loyal Dementia Challenge, in partnership with new thinking and build experience. We engage consumers, front-line staff companion the Department of Health, brought together Customised for emotional and local communities who know their issues best. Our work provokes alarm clock support designers, innovators, service providers, discussion, generates research and influences policy. By harnessing design, healthcare experts and technologists to we can pioneer new ways of thinking and doing that address social, economic create practical product and service solutions. and environmental challenges now and for the future. Design impact: Guided by research and expert mentors, multidisciplinary teams were funded and supported to develop Feeding a range of concepts to serve people at or routines around the point of diagnosis. Working Exercise and social alongside those affected by dementia and Making SolaCatcher commercial interaction their carers to co-design solutions, the SolaCatcher is an innovative, easy-to-install five teams produced working prototypes solar water heating solution developed by the that were launched to potential public and University of Ulster. It collects solar energy, Daily commercial partners. tasks retains stored heat for longer and provides The results: The resulting products a shorter payback period than existing solar Dog MOT – water heating systems. veterinary and services include an aroma-emitting check ups device to stimulate appetite and support The university has a fantastic, unique healthy nutrition, a wristband personal product, with the potential of being sold alarm and monitoring system, and a new directly to consumers or to developers approach training assistance dogs to support and local authority housing departments. people with dementia. They demonstrate This required questions to be addressed the vast potential of innovative ideas in an about how the product would be made and under-served market and show how design installed to make it as attractive as possible can play a key role in confronting a major to potential customers. social challenge.

Design impact: We worked with the An independent audit report projects that, university team to ensure it considered the Independence by helping people access better nutrition, appropriate routes and tested personal security, shared care and more these with potential customers. We also physical activity, these innovations could helped the team develop their marketing bring a social return of over £500 million, plan which is now being implemented. whilst the programme itself could generate £40 million of economic value.

All five prototypes will be further tested and developed with commercial partners with the aim of making them available as Above: A ’s impression of soon as possible. the SolaCatcher on different roofs

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How we work We believe in the transformative power of design to change people’s lives for the better. We are proud of the impact the Design Council has made over the last 60 years and excited about our future as an enterprising charity; leading, inspiring and influencing the use of design to improve everyday life. We work in a number of areas:

Challenges Cabe Designing practical solutions Creating better, more sustainable places to complex problems “Everything we do is about the “Great design can address design of the built environment; complex problems in society making accessible, sustainable – and our Challenges and – above all – great places competitions deliver high that people want to live and quality, innovative and spend time in.” practical solutions.” Nahid Majid, Director Mat Hunter, Chief Design Officer

Leadership Insight Harnessing design to drive business Leading and sharing the latest growth and improve service efficiency thinking on design “We help businesses and “We lead the way in generating public bodies realise the power evidence, building networks, of design to drive long term and influencing policy to ensure growth and improve efficiency. that the benefits of great design We show leaders how design are accessible to everyone.” can bring different parts of Tony Burton, Director their organisation together to deliver great results.” Ellie Runcie, Director ISBN 978-1-904335-31-3

9781904335313 June 2012