Design Council: Design Fund for Growth

Overview

The aim is to create or strengthen programmes run by intermediary organisations that improve understanding between design, business and technology and leave behind lasting legacies.

Each successful partner organisation will receive up to £20,000 in funding to plan, promote and run their proposed activity and also to build on its success thereafter.

Projects must take place between October 2011 and March 2012. Our intention is to plan 5 events between these months with each project/event taking place in a different month so that it creates a heartbeat of activities spread across the country over a period of time.

“Through this Fund we are reinforcing our commitment to the design sector infrastructure and supporting closer collaborations between business, technology and design,” says David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council.

The Design Fund will be focusing on supporting a smaller number of initiatives with larger grants enabling them to achieve even wider reach, greater impact and longer lasting legacy.

Proposals are particularly being encouraged from not-for-profit organisations such as design support networks, business representative organisations, technology groups, universities, with the aim of strengthening the relationship between design, business and technology.

This year the proposals will be judged by a panel of specialists, chaired by economic regeneration expert Pam Alexander, a Trustee of the Design Council. “We are not just looking for projects that inspire innovation, we are looking for innovative projects. We want to see some new collaborations and exciting ideas that bring industry and design together. We are looking for the spur for tomorrow’s business success stories," says Pam Alexander.

We welcome proposals from:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• Design networks, bodies and other sector organisations such as universities
• Business support organisations
• Universities
• Innovation hubs

Selection criteria

• Understanding of the brief: Does the applying organisation understand and meet requirements of the brief?

• The project idea: How it fits with the Design Council’s objective to make stronger connections between design, business and technology? What is the quality and focus of the project proposal?

• Relevance of the audience: Does the organisation know their target audience? What is the relevance? Is there a good marketing plan in place?

• Reach: Does the proposed project have the capacity to reach a wider audience on a regional or national level?

• Organisation’s credibility: Is there an experienced team and resources available to make the project happen on time and to budget?

• Partnerships: Are there suitable and relevant partnerships in place to achieve the project?

• Evaluation: Is there clear methodology and measures set up for the project?

• Legacy: Are there clear and tangible outputs from the project? What will its legacy be?

How to Apply

The deadline for organisations to apply is 5pm on Friday 2 September