UK : CSD explores good design value at Plus Design Festival

CSD Chief Executive Frank Peters MCSD and CSD Council members Bob Hewson MCSD, Dean Johnson MCSD and Brian Webb FCSD have contributed to the recent Plus International Design Festival, held in Birmingham on 17-20 October.

The Plus International Design Festival featured a number of events aimed specifically at the wider business community and included a debate and reception hosted by the Design Council and the Chartered Society of Designers, exploring the value of good design and the commercial benefits it can bring to business.

Leading this debate, Chief Executive Frank Peters argued that ‘Design is magic’ and said “no doubt many designers may think they know what is meant by ‘design’ but that does not mean there is a common understanding either amongst design sector of providers and educators or consumers of design.

Design services cover a myriad of design disciplines: graphic, interior, product, and this is further complicated when considering software design, service design, design research and design management.

Finding a common language to describe what a designer does or how to demonstrate their competence is not only difficult but it could be argued, has inhibited progress by the design sector in achieving universal professional recognition”.

As part of the series of Education events, Dean Johnson gave a presentation on the rise of the “Super Grad”, highlighting the diversity of design skills required to work on some of his company’s larger projects – and gave insights from three key case studies for Lexus, Toyota and Guinness World Records.

Bob Hewson spoke about The Path to Design; the journey from student to designer and what should be expected when they arrive. He discussed some of the paths a student may choose in further and higher education, and also looked at various branches of the design industry where they may seek employment. Bob Hewson has had involvement with a number of schools of art and design for many years and at present he is employed as a part time senior lecturer in graphic communication at the University of Northampton.

Chartered Society of Designers