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Design Council announces a multi-disciplinary and diverse network of design experts to tackle social, environmental and economic challenges

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Design Council, an independent charity and the UK government's advisor on design, announced its refreshed network of 400 experts working in the built and natural environments. With a commitment 'to make life better by design,' the organisation has chosen experts that collectively embody this mission, and will help Design Council in its role delivering design advice and support services in the built and natural environment.  

Experts hold distinct roles across architecture, landscape architecture, public health, circular economy and net zero carbon consultancy, while throughout, the council explains, is a passion for design innovation and creating inclusive environments.

While many of the existing design experts re-applied and joined the new network, this renewal of the network aimed to increase its diversity. The Council explains that the increased diversity of experts in terms of profession, background, and regional knowledge will strengthen the services that Design Council can offer its clients and contacts and allow them to better address the major social, environmental and economic challenges.

The new appointments included 34 ambassadors, 350 associates and specialists, and over 20 corporate partners. Ambassadors include: Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, founding director of dRMM architects and leading industry design advocate; Patricia Brown, director of Central, advising business and civic leaders on partnerships, developments and projects to create thriving places, economies and businesses; Roger Madelin CBE, joint head of British Land’s 53 acre development at Canada Water; Olutayo Adebowale, an environmental scientist with over 30 years’ experience and director of sustainability consultancy Cirkadia; Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, disability and gender equity advocate and the first visibly disabled deputy leader of a UK political party, the Women’s Equality Party; Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects, Stirling Prize winner; Tim Gill from Rethinking Childhood, an independent scholar, advocate and consultant on childhood; Usman Haque, an award-winning architect and founder of Umbrellium, a design and build studio dedicated to transforming urban environments; Maria Adebowale Shwartz, CEO of Foundation for Future London and city and an urban place strategist.

Corporate partner organisations, who will partner on projects, research and delivery, were chosen for values that align with those of Design Council. They include Beam, Black Professionals in Construction, Commonplace, Croydon Council’s Placemaking Team, Historic England, Living Streets, Migrants Bureau, Ryder and Pfizer.

Design Council chief executive, Minnie Moll, commented: 'The social, environmental and economic value of the built and natural environment is informed and enhanced by solutions that are inclusive and holistic. I am delighted to welcome back many of our existing experts as well as introduce new faces and bring them together with our highly acclaimed design associates to build a dynamic community of practice. In creating the new network we deliberately set out to increase the diversity in the group, reflecting under-represented groups and bringing greater breadth of perspective and expertise.'

The full network can be found here.