All About Design Club

There has been much activity and discussion within the design community on the problematic subject of ‘innovation’ and the design challenges it sets in different environments from corporate boardrooms to public services. There have been those of the opinion that one should avoid using the the word (Stop saying innovation, Scott Berkun), to whether innovation in corporate environments is really possible (Andy Budd’s Innovation Trap talk to take place on 30 March), to the opinion that the only real innovation is innovation that is not stymied by concerns for the environment and knows no limits and places ‘human endeavour back at the centre of the universe’ (Big Potatoes: The London Manifesto for Innovation).

Strategies and whitepapers are being launched, agendas begun and set, events and meetups organised and attended, articles written and published, ideas generated in agencies the length and breadth of the country – all with the ambition of getting to the bottom of the widespread design challenges facing our time.

And there are a multitude of approaches but most are in agreement that even though there are many differences of opinion there is a need to openly discuss ideas, approaches and find solutions together. There is a need to bring together the difference of opinion to discuss, debate and understand. For example, to enable full understanding of everyone’s different approaches to design innovation and the acceptance that there is difference of opinion about what it means and what innovation actually is and how it should be handled.

As a community we need to discuss and challenge many opinions and preconceptions in order to reach a position of mutual respect and understanding. In this election year (in the UK), there are many subjects that require analysis and challenging rather than lethargic acceptance (eg healthcare, crime, local communities, transport, the environment). I want to call it the All About Design Club and alongside a host of individuals, agencies, groups, organisations pushing for insight, understanding and change I would like to encourage open and public discussion.

I believe there are wonderful opportunities to bring together the large and dynamic UK design community to discuss, argue and discover about a diverse range of design approaches, subjects and practice.

Please join in.