Design for Scotland
Scotland needs good design more than ever.
The planet is at a critical moment, as we all look to proactively address the climate crisis, the transition to net zero, as our public finances face ever-increasing challenges, and as we work to make the case for the critical role of creativity in a just and thriving society.
Design shapes almost all aspects of our lives and access to good design should be equal for all. Good design remains a largely untapped resource.
Design for Scotland is a project seeking to explore how to develop a strategic and focused approach to supporting design nationally. It will do this by undertaking research and developing an engagement programme with partners and the design sector.
What are the ambitions of this project?
In 2022, with funding from Creative Scotland, V&A Dundee initiated Design for Scotland. Commissioning independent research led by GRAFT, Studio AndThen, and How2Glue, we set out to uncover the true value of design and what we found was remarkable. Scotland’s design economy is worth almost £7 billion, employs over 137,000 people, and is growing faster than nearly any other part of our economy. It’s bigger than tourism, generating 50% more value while employing fewer people, making it one of Scotland’s most productive and innovative sectors. And yet, unlike other industries, design still lacks a national policy to unlock its full potential.
We are now entering the second phase of our work to advocate for a national policy for the design sector. This is a pivotal moment to build on what we’ve learned and turn insight into action.
Our aims are ambitious:
1. Advocate for a national policy for the design sector.
2. Elevate design as a tool for policy development and societal transformation.
3. Support Scotland’s design economy.
Phase One Report and briefing papers
An independent research report, commissioned by V&A Dundee in partnership with and funded by Creative Scotland, explores what design can do for Scotland, and what Scotland can do for design. It looks in detail at its current national role and to what its future could and should be.
This report was delivered by Edinburgh-based innovation and design agency GRAFT, along with collaborators Andthen and how2glu, building on the important work of A Design Project for Scotland. This is a first step towards rethinking how Scotland nurtures and supports design, as well as understanding better what design is and what it can do.
Report and briefing papers:
Design for Scotland Summary Report
Briefing Paper 01 – Introducing Design for Scotland
Briefing Paper 02 – Design in Scotland Today
Briefing Paper 03 – Envisioning the Future of Design in Scotland
Briefing Paper 04 – Design Sector Support Across Europe
Briefing Paper 05 – Making Change Happen
Briefing Paper 06 – Recommendations and Conclusions
Who is involved in Design for Scotland?
In phase one, V&A Dundee lead the project with support from the UNESCO City of Design Dundee team. They ran an open call to commission this independent research. This project is supported and funded by Creative Scotland through National Lottery Funds. Key stakeholders are the Scottish Government and the national enterprise agencies.
Through an open call, 36 individuals from across Scotland were recruited to form a working group. The applications were anonymised, and a selection criterion pre-defined to ensure broad representation of those working at different career stages, backgrounds and across different sub-sectors under the design umbrella. This group have had an integral role in sharing reflections on the current landscape of design in Scotland and in shaping scenarios which explore how design can thrive within and contribute to a future Scotland.
Further feedback was sought from across the design community through an online interactive questionnaire.
