London Design Map: Design Schools

Year: 2009
Editor: Clarke, A, Ion, W, McMahon, C and Hogarth, P
Author: Green, Stephen
Section: COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
Page(s): 55-60

Abstract

Design is widely recognised as an important component of the creative industries (design based businesses), and as part of business innovation (an ingredient within successful business), both of which are crucial to the London economy. London and the UK's design colleges and students are globally recognised for their heritage and creative output. The London Design Map is an initiative commissioned by the London Development Agency (LDA) to promote the design capability of the region's higher educational establishments (HEIs) to business by providing a multifaceted picture of the factors that make up the qualities and capability of design Higher Education (design HE) in the region. This paper describes phase 1 of the project. Analysis is derived from the collected map data which provides an overview of challenges facing businesses and Design HEIs wishing to collaborate, together with insights into the trends in the re-definition of design disciplines. The Design Map includes a new typology for classifying design disciplines and factors influencing business collaboration within design HE.

Keywords: Knowledge transfer, design schools, design disciplines, design mapping, strategic design, innovation