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Posted by Mark Vanderbeeken | 25 Mar 2009
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Comments (2)
British Design Innovation is calling on the UK Government to rethink its use of universities and publicly funded bodies to deliver innovation programmes, claiming it is damaging private-sector design consultancies.
In a report released today, BDI calls on the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills to reconsider the way in which it delivers its innovation programme. Publicly funded activity is threatening private sector consultancies, says the report, through a lack of engagement, ‘distortion of the market through unfair competition’ from university research departments and a lack of best-practice procurement procedures.
>> Read article (Design Week)
>> Read press release (BDI)
Comments
Speaking from the various points of view of having worked at the Institute of Design where the first PhD in Design program was created over a decade ago, as well as having recently switched over from the corporate design strategy to university funded research - I'd say that as the BDI press release itself states,
--"However, many publicly-recognisable brand-name clients insist that the strategic design companies, who create, develop and commercialise their products and brands remain undisclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
�This means that many university product design and innovation centres are not even aware of the incredibly talented strategic designers available to help commercialise their discoveries,� she said."--
What this usually tends to mean is that any discoveries - in design methodology, process improvements or simply better ways that design can make a social impact remain hidden under stringent NDA's and/or the design studio's proprietary IP. Whereas the universities focus on ensuring that the results are openly shared and published thus able to spark a thought or add value to the entire design industry as whole, which in turn, is another way that innovation moves forward.
On the other hand the wording of the report, as quoted in the blogpost above,
--"Publicly funded activity is threatening private sector consultancies, says the report, through a lack of engagement, ‘distortion of the market through unfair competition’ from university research departments and a lack of best-practice procurement procedures."--
seems to imply that as markets for corporate funded projects, ever far more lucrative than any grant, tighten due to economic challenges globally, whether its a case of the British Design Industry feeling a tad 'left out', as it were?
Thanks for the comments. I think you're right British Designers do feel unjustly left out of the implementation of the UK Plc innovation strategy. An unintentional oversight no doubt but nonetheless one that is having an adverse effect on the private sector design firms.
University Art & Design faculties are fast, adept and resourced to submit funding bids [not even open to private sector] but they have over-looked the benefit of collaboration with the private sector and instead are, on a large and widespread scale marketing directly to SME industry [comprising more than 50% of a private sector design firms business] free design services of their students in the name of innovation.
We all know that students need live work experience but this can be gained through industry briefs to support end of year projects and work placements.
What is taking place currently is direct and unhealthy competition [for all parties] against the Universities own alumni.
The situation needs urgent review and resolution to the benefit of all concerned.
The Report brings the previously unrecognised issues out into the open in order that debate can now take place and resolution reached.