Industrial Design Town Hall

As the DBA takes on the interests of the British Industrial Design Association (BIDA), we are excited to welcome a new group of industrial designers into the DBA community. This transition marks a significant shift in the national representation of industrial design, and we believe that together, we can build a stronger, more connected design industry.

To foster this new chapter, we’re hosting an Industrial Design Town Hall meeting – an open forum where you, the leaders and voices of industrial design teams and businesses, can share your experiences, challenges, and aspirations. We’re here to listen, learn, and update you on the steps we’re taking to support you and the design industry as a whole.
 
Join us online at 4pm on Thursday 21 November

Whether you have 1 year of experience or 50, whatever the size of your business, or the business you work for, your opinions are important to us. No idea, suggestion, or question is too small. Our aim is to understand the challenges and opportunities that exist specifically for industrial designers, so we can work together to shape the future. As a collective, the DBA can drive the change that’s difficult to achieve individually.

Over the course of the hour, we will focus on four key areas of discussion:

Talent and education
How can the education system—from schools and further education, to higher education and adult learning—better nurture and develop the talent we need at the heart of this sector? What are your views on diversity and equity of access to design across the UK? How can we make design a destination for talent?

Market opportunities for UK industrial design businesses
How are UK industrial design businesses navigating both local and international markets? Is it possible to sustain a consultancy with UK-only clients? We’ll look at the challenges of finding work and opportunities for growth in the global market.

Skills and knowledge for the future
With the rise of technologies like AI, and the growing demand for sustainable products, what skills and knowledge will be essential for designers to stay ahead? We’ll explore how we can ensure working designers remain prepared for what’s coming.

Reputation of the sector
Building a strong reputation for the industrial design sector as a whole, beyond individual businesses, is critical. This isn’t something any one company can achieve alone, and we’ll discuss how we can work together to raise the sector’s profile.

Sign up here and join us on 21 November, 4-5pm GMT