01 – Introduction

"Design skills are not only the golden thread through our world-leading Creative industries, but will be critical to the green transition. The Design Council's research shows we must act now to harness these. From schools, with Design & Technology renewed as a tool to tackle the climate emergency. To working designers in industry, equipping them with the skills to grow a fair, green economy."

Lord Jo Johnson

01 – Introduction

This short report draws insights from our forthcoming research into the environmental and social value of design in the UK, as part of our Design Economy research programme. The insight is drawn from a representative sample of 1,068 UK designers working across the design disciplines. Our key findings are:

Design is a key tool in the green transition:

66% of designers have designed for environmental impact in the last 12 months.

But there is a significant skills gap:

71% of designers say they think demand will grow, but only 43% feel they have the capability to meet this.

Only 46% of designers are proficient or expert and only half think their education provided them with sufficient design for planet skills.

We need to invest in the green skills of current and future designers if we are to leverage the potential of the design sector for a new green economy.