The APDIG is a forum for open debate between Parliament and the UK’s design and innovation communities

People

"We spend billions of pounds on services but the public sector still rarely uses the skills of our world-class service design industry to ensure quality and cost effectiveness. Now is the time for people in the public sector to realise the potential power of service design to create better services at less cost."

- Lord Michael Bichard, Maiden Speech in the Lords, 27 May 2010

"Design is not an amateur matter. We may all think we know a good design when we see one, but it is not just a matter of good taste. It is a matter of functionality, and of buildings or other objects which achieve a purpose."

- Baroness Whitaker, Academies Bill in the Lords, 28 June 2010

"Design is at the heart of most of what we do as civilised human beings. We’ve got to engage the people that run this country – up here in the Lords and down there in the Commons – in a more meaningful way."

- Barry Sheerman MP, the launch of 'Design and the Public Good', 2 March 2010

Find out more

Events

Forthcoming

Social Design Series:
Mariana Amantullo
30th May, 6.30pm
In association with the Young Foundation, V&A and University of Brighton
More information here

British Design Summer Reception
11th July, House of Lords Terrace

Recent

Social Design Series:
Carrie Bishop/ Futuregov
In association with the Young Foundation, V&A and University of Brighton
Summary of discussion here

A New Vision for Design Education:
Is design learning at school fit for purpose?
Chair: Baroness Whitaker
Summary of discussion here

Design Industry Parliamentary Roundtable
In partnership with the DBA
More here

Social Design Series:
Cameron Tonkinwise
More here

Diversifying Access to the Design Industry
More here
Design Week editorial here

Design & Tech City II:
Local skills and young people
With the CIKTN
More here

Older

News

Newsletter

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Comment

'Creative Industries Council endorses recommendations to tackle skills challenges'

In Parliament

Design and the Budget
Extracts from Budget 2012: what's in it for the Creative Industries?

Debate on the Design Commission's report 'Restarting Britain' in the Lords
Baroness Whitaker emphasises the importance design has in creating the technical and intellectual capacity the UK needs for the 21st century.
View Hansard Record of 24th January

In the Press

Design Commission Report Lauch:
Investing in design capital should be our plan for growth
Westminster Briefing
Read here