A Big Week for the Design Council...

...who launched their most recent public service innovation-by-design project, Design for Patient Dignity, with the Department of Health.

The Design Council says:

'The revolutionary 'bed pods' and screening systems, modular toilets and washrooms and a redesigned patient gown are just some design prototypes to improve patient privacy and dignity that have been unveiled at the Design Council this week.

The groundbreaking designs are the culmination of the Design Council’s Design for Patient Dignity programme which has brought together seven teams of leading UK designers - including the renowned fashion designer Ben de Lisi and  PearsonLloyd, who have previously developed the Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Super Seats.

Mr de Lisi, who designed a new patient gown said: "Whether it is an actress on the red carpet that gown has to work for the occasion. It has to have the same philosophy, it has to be hard-working, effortless and timeless." '

This project is one in a series of rapid low-cost procurement projects that the Design Council is running with other government departments, the NHS and private sector partners. These projects all follow similar Open Innovation principles – bringing frontline staff, designers and manufacturers together to help find new solutions to tricky social problems.

• BBC coverage of the launch here
• Download the briefing here
• More on the Design Council's website here
• The Dignity project was raised at the No. 10 morning press briefing

Last week also saw the Design Council launch of a piece of research into the size and shape of the UK design industry. More here.