Design London receives funding from LDA to help London businesses

Turning ideas into products – New Designing Demand programme - News

Tuesday 18 March 2008
By Naomi Weston

Design London, a collaboration between Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, has received funding from the London Development Agency (LDA) to deliver a new design training and support programme to help small businesses in the city.

Working with Grant Thornton UK LLP, a financial and business adviser which will manage and administer the programme, Design London has received £3.5 million to deliver the Designing Demand project.

The Design Council developed the nation-wide programme which is provided through regional development agencies. It shows business owners and managers how design can more effectively turn ideas into products and services without extra costs.

Through Designing Demand, Design London will offer a range of programmes specifically tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses, encouraging design in companies. There are also additional new services planned to extend the core Designing Demand programme. These take full advantage of Design London’s facilities which include rapid prototyping and computer simulation resources.

Nick Leon, Director of Design London, said: “This partnership puts design-led innovation centre stage for small and medium sized businesses, transforming business performance, enhancing skills and contributing to the economic resurgence of key sectors and communities.”

He added: “Design London brings a unique combination of creativity, technological expertise, and business acumen – represented by each of the partners - to the Designing Demand programme.”

Design London was established by lead partner The Royal College of Art with Imperial College London in 2007, supported by £5.8 million backing from funding bodies HEFCE and NESTA. The venture combines creativity and expertise in design from the Royal College of Art, engineering from Imperial College's Faculty of Engineering and the business of innovation from Imperial College's Tanaka Business School.

Companies interested in using the programme are able to register on the Designing Demand website. Please see:www.designingdemand.org.uk