02 April 2008
DESIGN BLUEPRINT TO IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND EDUCATION
London (United Kingdom) - The 'Design Blueprint' has been developed as an action plan for the recommendations first set out in the High Level Skills for Higher Value report published last year. This report identified the need for designers to have access to better professional information services and advice on continuing professional development. It also recognised that design students must be better prepared for the rapidly evolving challenges of the industry.
The Blueprint sets out a clear roadmap for bridging these gaps, with the central action being for an alliance of industry and education that will work with partners to deliver a comprehensive programme of strategic products and services for design professionals, including:
The Blueprint sets out a clear roadmap for bridging these gaps, with the central action being for an alliance of industry and education that will work with partners to deliver a comprehensive programme of strategic products and services for design professionals, including:
- Designers’ Business Knowledge Base - a guide to what professional practice really means for design businesses
- Professional development campaign - a drive to boost availability and take-up of professional development, promoting new and existing courses.
- Strategic analysis and future thinking - researching the skills we’ll need tomorrow, analysing the findings and leading debate on future opportunities and challenges for designers.
It will also work with partners to deliver programmes for design education, including:
- A network of Visiting Design Professionals - which will bring working designers into degree courses to connect the curriculum with practice
- A Multi-disciplinary Design Network - to bring together those in design, business, technology and other fields to share practical knowledge and experience
- Careers advice and guidance - clear and comprehensive information for students to help them choose the right course, and the right direction / job afterwards.
- Designers working with schools - enabling teachers and students to work with professional designers
- A 'Design Mark' scheme - to reward schools for delivering high quality design education
- Teacher development - to strengthen the links between teacher training and professional practice
The central action set out in the Design Blueprint is the formation of a design skills alliance, which will co-ordinate the drive for industry and government sponsorship, and take forward the delivery of the programmes.
The alliance will be a public-private partnership with its set-up being resourced jointly by the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills. Ultimately, the delivery of the resources and services outlined in the Design Blueprint will be dependent on adequate funding for the alliance coming from the design industry, major UK design-led businesses and government.
Read the full press release.
Design Blueprint is available online from Tuesday 18th March at:
www.designcouncil.org.uk/designblueprint
For more information please contact:
Saskia Sissons
Design Council
t: +44 20 7420 5248
e: saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk
Amanda Stubbins
Creative and Cultural Skills
t: +44 20 7015 1800
e: amanda.stubbins@ccskills.org.uk
About the Design Skills Advisory Panel
The Design Skills Advisory Panel is a group of 75 design industry and education experts convened by the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills to inform their employer-led skills strategy. Chaired by Jonathan Sands with David Worthington as Deputy Chair, it comprises representatives from across the UK design industry, including design businesses, freelance designers, in-house designers, design organisations and educators.
About the Design Council
The Design Council is the UK’s national strategic body for design. It aims to strengthen and support the economy and society by demonstrating and promoting the vital role of design in making businesses more competitive and public services more effective. www.designcouncil.org.uk
About Creative & Cultural Skills
Creative & Cultural Skills is the UK Sector Skills Council for the creative and cultural industries, which include advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts. Like all Sector Skills Councils, Creative & Cultural Skills is employer-led and works to improve the education, training and skills available to the sector to ensure that the UK remains economically competitive. www.ccskills.org.uk
Receive industrial design news right in your inbox.