Design Council collaborates in creating new training resource for designers
04.11.2009 News
London (United Kingdom) - Leading designer David Worthington, Chair of the Design Skills Alliance, has appealed to designers to take urgent action to sort out their professional skills as new figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal that only 8.9 per cent had received job-related training, compared to 15.7 per cent of architects and 16.2 per cent of civil engineers.
Worthington, who is Chair of Lloyd Northover Group, said "I believe that the UK design industry is the best in the world, but we must develop our professional skills for it to remain that way - and the sooner people start, the better."
To support this drive, the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills have created a comprehensive resource of tools, 'how to' guides, professional development course listings and other information, which will be available online from today at www.designcouncil.org.uk/gooddesignpractice.
The aim is to raise the numbers of those accessing job-related training in the design industry to be more in line with comparable sectors such as architects.
Over three quarters of designers admit that what they lack most are business management skills; six in ten say they lack the skills to understand their client's business; and over forty per cent lack the verbal skills to help them communicate their ideas effectively, according to research carried out by the Design Council in 2005.
Worthington added: "Why are designers amongst the least well-trained professionals when it comes to business skills? The statistics suggest that a staggering 60 per cent of designers admit they don't understand their clients' businesses well enough. The fact that we are an industry made up predominantly of micro-businesses is no excuse for this lack of professional understanding."
The Design Skills Alliance, which includes the Design Council, Creative & Cultural Skills and other industry bodies, is calling for a step change in the way designers approach their professional skills, and is encouraging them to take action now to improve them.
The resources form part of the Good Design Practice initiative, developed by the Design Skills Alliance, and launched last year following the publication of the Blueprint, which set out a roadmap for improving UK designers' skills.
Lesley Morris, Head of Design Skills at the Design Council and Director of the Design Skills Alliance and, said: "We're trying to help the industry face an increasingly competitive future by creating a one stop shop signposting all the information, guides and resources designers need, plus information on where to access the best training courses and how to join networks and forums around the country. But we need designers' help too. We want to know which courses really work, and if there are gaps in provision, so we're asking them to post their views on our website and let us know."
Worthington, who is Chair of Lloyd Northover Group, said "I believe that the UK design industry is the best in the world, but we must develop our professional skills for it to remain that way - and the sooner people start, the better."
To support this drive, the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills have created a comprehensive resource of tools, 'how to' guides, professional development course listings and other information, which will be available online from today at www.designcouncil.org.uk/gooddesignpractice.
The aim is to raise the numbers of those accessing job-related training in the design industry to be more in line with comparable sectors such as architects.
Over three quarters of designers admit that what they lack most are business management skills; six in ten say they lack the skills to understand their client's business; and over forty per cent lack the verbal skills to help them communicate their ideas effectively, according to research carried out by the Design Council in 2005.
Worthington added: "Why are designers amongst the least well-trained professionals when it comes to business skills? The statistics suggest that a staggering 60 per cent of designers admit they don't understand their clients' businesses well enough. The fact that we are an industry made up predominantly of micro-businesses is no excuse for this lack of professional understanding."
The Design Skills Alliance, which includes the Design Council, Creative & Cultural Skills and other industry bodies, is calling for a step change in the way designers approach their professional skills, and is encouraging them to take action now to improve them.
The resources form part of the Good Design Practice initiative, developed by the Design Skills Alliance, and launched last year following the publication of the Blueprint, which set out a roadmap for improving UK designers' skills.
Lesley Morris, Head of Design Skills at the Design Council and Director of the Design Skills Alliance and, said: "We're trying to help the industry face an increasingly competitive future by creating a one stop shop signposting all the information, guides and resources designers need, plus information on where to access the best training courses and how to join networks and forums around the country. But we need designers' help too. We want to know which courses really work, and if there are gaps in provision, so we're asking them to post their views on our website and let us know."
About the Design Council
The Design Council the national strategic body for design. The Design Council is a Promotional Member of Icograda.
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