Design Wales is an organisation based at the National Centre for Product Design & Development Research at Cardiff Metropolitan University, which over the years has raised the profile and increased the use of design within the Wales’ economy. This to a great extent has been achieved by providing one to one design advise directly to Welsh companies and organisations.
Background
Design Wales was launched in December 1994 by the Secretary of State for Wales, John Redwood, as the Welsh Design Advisory Service. In the April 2000 it was renamed Design Wales. Over the last few years Design Wales has also initiated several design programmes for companies based in Wales, these have included 'Understanding computer-aided design', 'Design In The Food Sector','Brand Essentials' and the 'Service Design Programme'.
The Service Design Programme helps Welsh design and advanced manufacturing companies use service design to increase competitiveness, innovation and capacity, as well as generating new employment opportunities in Wales. The programme is operating from July 2010 to August 2013, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government Department for Economy and Transport. Over the three years Design Wales will deliver a number of service design activities to both sectors.
Design Wales Forum
Design Wales Forum is a network for designers in Wales, established in 2010 by Design Wales. A key aim of the Design Wales Forum is create activity which supports the maintenance and capacity growth of the Welsh design community. The Design Wales Forum actively promotes the economic benefits of design to the business community.
SEE Platform
Between 2012 and 2015, Design Wales are leading a European Commission network of 11 partners called the SEE Platform. SEE aims to accelerate the integration of design into innovation policies and programmes. Policy-makers and programme managers can attend free workshops to understand the role of design in innovation in their region.
SEEdesign
Between 2005 and 2007, Design Wales co-ordinated the EU-funded programme "SEEdesign"–Sharing Experience on Design Support for SMEs. Other partners were Design Flanders, The Design Centre of the Czech Republic, Design Centre Rhone-Alps, Experimental Centre for Furniture and Furnishing, Danish Design Centre, and the University of Manchester.
SEEProject
Between September 2008 and June 2011 Design Wales are coordinating the EU-funded programme SEEProject. Leading eleven design organisations from across Europe the SEEProject seeks to understand and develop the role of design in realising regional and national innovation policy.
