The All-Party Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group (APDIG) is an official All-Party Parliamentary Group. The group exists to provide a forum for open debate between Parliament and the UK's design and innovation communities, and to communicate within Parliament the enormous potential value of design, innovation and the UK

creative industries The creative industries refers to a range of economic activities which are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information. They may variously also be referred to as the cultural industries (especially in Europe) or the ...

, as well as help the design community better engage with the policy process. The APPG is composed of over 30 MPs and Peers from across the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Liberal Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties have usually followed liberalism as ideology, although they can vary widely from very progr ...

and Labour and more parties. Its official entry on the Houses of Parliament register can be found on th
APPG Register
Its secretariat services are provided by

Policy Connect Policy Connect is a British cross-party think tank that was founded in 1995 by Labour MP Barry Sheerman. The organization is primarily known for running all-party parliamentary groups. Leadership Sheerman is the current Chair of the Board o ...

, an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in London.

Mission

The APDIG exists to advise government and promote debate around UK design policy, acting as a bridge between the Westminster and design communities. In supporting and promoting effective debate around design and innovation, the APDIG seeks to address three particular elements within UK design policy: * Specific government policy measures that directly affect the design industry * Government's wider approach to industrial policy and the use of the design industry as a tool for industrial competitiveness * How government employs design services to improve its own operation and working

Events

The APDIG holds regular seminar events within Parliament to allow policy makers and the design community to meet and share ideas. Recent events have addressed issues such as the effect of design thinking on the policy making process, government procurement of design services, recent government changes to the school curriculum and its impact on design education, amendments to copyright legislation that affect designers, and the potential for an EU-wide design policy. The APDIG also regularly holds events outside Parliament, typically in collaboration with other leading design industry organisations. Recent partnerships have included events at the V&A,

Young Foundation The Young Foundation is a not-for-profit, organisation driving community research and social innovation. It is named after Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington, Michael Young, the British sociologist and social activist who created over 60 ...

, Danish Embassy and the London 2012 Olympic Park.

The Design Commission

The APDIG has a bespoke research arm, the Design Commission. Made up of more than 20 leading figures from across the UK creative and economic communities, its purpose is to explore, through research, how design can drive economic and social improvement, and how government and business can better understand the importance of design. The Commission holds regular research inquiries, similar in scope and approach to that of a UK Parliament select committee inquiry process. An example of work undertaken by the Commission: in 2011 the Commission launched a six-month inquiry, chaired by Baroness Whitaker and

Vicky Pryce Vasiliki "Vicky" Pryce (' Kourmouzi (); born 15 July 1952) is a Greek-born British economist and a former Joint Head of the United Kingdom's Government Economic Service. She is the Chief Economic Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Busine ...

, former Joint Head of the United Kingdom's Government Economic Service. The inquiry examined the UK's design education system, and produced a report, entitled 'Restarting Britain', calling for policy changes in UK education.

Parliamentary Members

The All-Party Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group is made up of over 30 parliamentarians from across both Houses of Parliament and three political parties, as well as the House of Lords' cross benches.

Associate Members

As an Associate Parliamentary Group, membership of the APDIG is open to individuals and organisations from outside Parliament. The APDIG currently has ten associate members, comprising several of the leading organisations from across the UK creative and design industries: *

Design Council The Design Council, formerly the Council of Industrial Design, is a United Kingdom Charitable trust, charity incorporated by royal charter. Its stated mission is "to champion great design that improves lives and makes things better". It was instr ...

* Design Business Association *

Crafts Council The Crafts Council is the national development agency for contemporary craft in the United Kingdom, and is funded by Arts Council England. History The Crafts Advisory Committee was formed in 1971 to advise the Minister for the Arts, David Eccle ...

* Design & Technology Association *

Creative & Cultural Skills Creative & Cultural Skills is one of the Sector Skills Councils established by the UK Government in 2005 to foster the development of a skilled workforce. Function It covers crafts, cultural heritage, jewelry, design, music, performing, literary ...

* Council for Higher Education in Art and Design (CHEAD) *

British Institute of Interior Design British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...

Design Museum The Design Museum in Kensington, London, England, exhibits product, industrial, graphic, fashion, and architectural design. In 2018, the museum won the European Museum of the Year Award. The museum operates as a registered charity, and all fund ...

* The Human Centered Design Society * Images&Co Design Group

References

{{Reflist, refs= About us
{{webarchive , url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928114909/http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/apdig/about-us , date=28 September 2012 from the official web page. Code of Governance
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External links

Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group website
Design and Innovation