The Value of Design to your Company.

The National Survey of Firms, previously published as Design in Britain, has been carried out annually for several years. It’s the most comprehensive investigation into the use of, and attitudes to, design among UK businesses. In it, ‘design alert’ companies have been identified and it has been shown that design had a direct impact on such things as competitiveness, turnover and market share.

Design can have a positive effect on all business performance indicators, from turnover and profit to market share and competitiveness. Design Council research has demonstrated this. They looked closely at design alert businesses to gather proof. For example, for every £100 a design alert business spends on design, turnover increases by £225. In addition, the Design Council research has established that for every £100 a design alert business spends on design, profit increases by £83. 

These are figures that we can not ignore.

 

MA Design have seen many clients benefit from their investment in design, whether by means of directly increased sales, an increase in lead generation or simply increased brand awareness. Below are a few more reasons why design and marketing should be high on your company’s agenda...

 

 

Businesses that see design as integral don’t need to compete on price as much as others. Where design is integral, less than half of businesses compete mainly on price, compared to two thirds of those who don’t use design.

 

On average, design alert businesses increase their market share by 6.3% through using design. Those in the retail, wholesale and leisure services and manufacturing sectors saw the biggest increases – respectively 6.9% and 7.2%.

 

Turnover growth is more likely for businesses that increase their investment in design. Conversely, those that decreased investment cut their chances of growth.

 

Businesses get even more benefit from adding value when they use design or a designer. That’s true whether they use design specifically for added value activity or see it as important to the business generally.

 

 

 

This information is courtesy of the Design Council and produced with permission. (www.designcouncil.org)