Design Council

"Putting the planet at the heart of business is the way to future prosperity." – Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester This year’s Design for Planet Festival brought together visionary leaders from design, business, and government to showcase how design can help businesses thrive while regenerating the planet. From bold discussions to actionable insights, the festival highlighted how designers can turn carbon accounting into action, reduce emissions while cutting costs, and drive new circular business models that deliver value for businesses and consumers alike. Missed the event? Catch up on the inspiring sessions now: https://ow.ly/I4jO50Uu3W9 #DesignForPlanet #PlanetPositiveBusiness #RegenerativeDesign #Sustainability

Innovation is the driving force behind a sustainable future. At this year’s Design for Planet Festival, Tanya Popeau, Director at Synthesis, delivered a powerful keynote: Driving the Future. 🌍 Sharing lessons from global development and big corporates, Tanya revealed how businesses can embed sustainability into their core models to drive both impact and revenue. From tackling climate risks to advancing social inclusion, her insights showcased how agile design and innovation can create solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges. A must-watch for anyone committed to building a future where business and sustainability thrive together. 📺 Catch up on this talk here https://lnkd.in/e_rqiKdS. #DesignForPlanet #Sustainability #Innovation #FutureReady

Kicking off the Design for Planet Festival 2024, Andy Burnham shared Greater Manchester’s bold vision for inclusive, green growth. Andy reminded us that designing for the planet means reimagining our cities, driving green innovation, and always putting people at the centre of progress. "If you want to design for planet you've got to start building for public transport rather than building for the car" Catch Andy Burnham’s talk and more of the Festival on our YouTube channel. https://ow.ly/hMQB50UpJjn #Sustainability #GreenEconomy #DesignLeadership #DesignforPlanet

Can businesses truly prosper while achieving environmental sustainability? This question was at the heart of a standout discussion at this year's Design for Planet Festival. Industry leaders Martyn Evans, Creative Director at LandsecU+I, Katie Hill, Co-chair of B Lab and James Vaccaro, Founder of RePattern & Chief Catalyst for the Climate Safe Lending Network, explored how design and innovation can drive both profitability and planet-positive impact in a rapidly changing world. 🌍 From bold ideas to actionable insights, this debate is a must-watch for anyone passionate about the future of sustainable business. 📺 Catch up on this talk and more from the festival here: https://ow.ly/K09950UoW2r #DesignForPlanet #SustainableBusiness #PlanetPositiveBusiness #CatchUpContent #ClimateInnovation

Seeking three exceptional people to become Trustees.   As we celebrate our 80th year, we have exciting opportunities ahead such as Anniversary celebrations, and the World Design Congress that will put our Design for Planet mission on the global stage. We are seeking three individuals to join our Board of Trustees on this journey. Visionary Designer 🌱 Bring insights to help achieve our target of upskilling one million designers in green skills by 2030 🌱 Ensure that we champion and support the 1.97m people working in the UK design sector Finance Expert 🌱 Chair our Finance, Audit and General Purposes sub committee 🌱 Bring your expertise to ensure that we use our resources effectively to meet our objectives Sustainability Leader 🌱 Help us ensure that out our Design for Planet mission delivers maximum impact  🌱 Help highlight design's role in the green transition and government's missions As a Trustee, you’ll support the Board in ensuring that as a charity we use our resources effectively and empower our team to deliver our five-year strategy and goals. This is your chance to help shape the future of design and make a lasting impact. Apply today: https://ow.ly/2LTs50Uo9Uh #Trustees #DesignForPlanet #Hiring #CharityRecruitment #Sustainability

A month on from the inspiring Design for Planet Festival in Manchester, the energy, ideas, and innovation shared are still sparking conversations! The theme, Planet Positive Business, proved that design is the key to creating a thriving, green economy.   Here are five key takeaways that stood out from this year’s festival: 1️⃣ Design as a driver for systemic change Design is the key to shaking up the norm and solving the challenges of our time. By leading with creativity, we can create solutions that everyone is proud of. “Challenge orthodoxy, and when we succeed at that... design leads to solutions everyone is proud of.” Martyn Evans Hon FRIBA, LandsecU+I   2️⃣ Harnessing supply chains for impact Cross-sector collaboration is the secret ingredient for real change. Embedding sustainability at the core of business models transforms not just companies but entire industries. “There is power in our supply chains.” Tanya Popeau, Synthesis   3️⃣ Design out waste to design in value Waste is a design flaw. Businesses must rethink processes and prioritise materials that align with their product’s lifecycle. “We are using the planet as a free, bottomless pit of resources. Waste is a design flaw.” — Sophie Thomas, Thomas.Matthews   4️⃣ Storytelling inspires change Sustainability needs a strong narrative. Forget the jargon -real people, real stories, and impactful communication inspire action. “Sustainability needs storytelling, not dry reports.” James Vaccaro, RePattern   5️⃣ A shift to regenerative practices The future of design lies in materials that give back to the planet. Regenerative design isn’t just a buzzword - it’s the blueprint for transformation. “We’ve used the same amount of materials in the last five years as we did in the entire 20th century.” Erinch Sahan, Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)   Which takeaway resonates most with you? Drop your thoughts below! If you've not yet caught up on these sessions head over to our Youtube playlist and find all the talks available to watch on demand: https://ow.ly/S1Y650Umsw8 #SustainableDesign #DesignForPlanet #PlanetPositiveBuisness #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy #InspireChange

With Christmas approaching, many will be taking to the roads across the country to visit friends and family. It’s the perfect time to rethink what we want from Motorway Service Areas (MSAs) and how they can evolve for a sustainable future. Earlier this year, we launched The Future of Motorway Service Areas Report, outlining six guiding principles to transform MSAs into sustainable, multifunctional hubs. Key highlights include: ◾ Promoting well-being and safety for travellers. ◾ Creating inclusive, adaptable services for all. ◾ Leveraging smart technology for stress-free journeys. ◾ Supporting local communities and economies. ◾ Championing sustainability to tackle climate change. Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer, explains: “This report is a call to action for the wider built environment sector to accelerate the integration of design into the solution. By reimagining how motorway service areas can operate, we are not just reducing their environmental impact but fundamentally preparing them to support a sustainable future.” Read the full report here: https://ow.ly/ej2J50UlFWX

"The idea that you can shape your world - not just consume it - needs to be taught right from the start." Early exposure to design is essential to inspire creativity, problem-solving, and the mindset to see possibilities. Let’s champion design education for the next generation!

As we accelerate toward a net-zero future, the role of service stations is at a crossroads. Could they become EV charging hubs, green community spaces, or something entirely unexpected? Our latest project with National Highways explores innovative ways to repurpose these spaces to address climate change while creating value for communities. Discover the full story in our latest blog: https://ow.ly/YBXr50UjO8v #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Innovation #ServiceDesign #DesignForPlanet

🌍 Proud Partners for Positive Change 🌱 We’re thrilled to share more about our recent collaboration with Design Council as their production partner for Design for Planet Festival – a world-leading hybrid event designed to inspire action on the climate and nature crises. 📍 Taking place in Manchester, the event welcomed 162 in-person guests and 2,229 online attendees tuning in from 112 countries. Its mission? To “upskill, inspire, and galvanise the design community to put the planet front and centre.” With inspiring keynotes and presentations curated by Design Council, featuring Minnie Moll, Patrick Grant and Sophie Thomas, it was impossible to leave without a renewed sense of purpose. We certainly did! At Stitch, we’re passionate about bringing circular-enabled production to the mainstream, and this event was no exception. The results?  ✔️ 96% circular-enabled production from Stitch   ✔️ Nearly 500 hours of direct social value generated Collaborating with clients like Design Council, who are deeply committed to making a difference for both people and the planet, is what fuels us.  Special thanks to Design Council, Matthew Burgess, Senior Events Manager and Harriet Packer, Senior Digital Content Manager for bringing us on this incredible journey. Here’s to more events that make a lasting impact! 💚 #SustainableProduction #DesignForPlanet #SocialValue #ClimateAction #Stitch #DesignCouncil