We wanted to share this great article, recently published on www.wandc.com
What does design contribute to the UK economy?
A recent government report has shown that industries in the design sector created £71.7bn in gross value added (GVA) in 2013. The Design Economy 2015 research investigated the economic value that the design industry contributed in recent years, and clearly illustrated the benefits of this sector.
Between 2009-2013 the design economy GVA increased by 27.9%, compared to an increase of 18.1% across the total UK economy.
Designers make up between 5 and 15% of the manufacturing industry, reflecting their key role in the specification of products.
Design Council Chief Executive John Mathers stated,
“Design Council has long recognised design’s contribution to economic growth, and this new report provides evidence of how investment in design is helping to raise productivity, stimulate growth and make Britain more prosperous.”
There are close to 580,000 people working in the design sector, but there a further million people who work in a design role in other industries. These statistics show that the design economy can be seen as the ninth largest employer in the UK.
John Mathers explained,
“The figures in our latest report speak for themselves. The design economy is creating thousands of jobs, exponentially improving British export markets and contributing billions to our economy. It is vital that it is recognised and supported in order for this growth to continue. That’s why Design Council’s role is more relevant than ever. We will continue to support organisations to use design, driving up productivity across areas of the country and in sectors where its full potential is yet to be fulfilled.”
Posted at – http://www.wandc.com/what-does-design-contribute-to-uk-economy/
