Design champions

We are working to embed design champions throughout industry and in government.

Delivering design quality requires strong leadership

The government has called for all public bodies with a responsibility for delivering and managing the built environment to appoint a 'design champion', including all government departments.

We are leading on this important initiative and want to see design champions embedded throughout industry and in government.

What does a design champion do?

The role of a design champion will vary from organisation to organisation, but their purpose is clear: to provide leadership and motivation, and ensure that every relevant organisation or project has a clear vision and strategy for delivering good design.

In 2006, there were design champions in:

• 65 per cent of local authorities
• 78 per cent of primary care trusts
• 93 per cent of acute trusts
• 67 per cent of local education authorities
• 83 per cent of police authorities
• a growing number of volume housebuilders.

Who are design champions?

A design champion will typically be at a senior level (for example a cabinet-level councilor in a local authority) and should be someone with a commitment and passion for design, as well as a good understanding of how their organisation operates.

An effective design champion will

• promote the benefits of good design
• support and challenge colleagues to be good clients
• inspire others to in turn champion good design themselves.

What is championing?

A design champion will work to develop and commit their organisation to a clear vision. This will allow staff to deliver improvements to the built environment that are not just new but of quality.

Champions are in a position to encourage incentives and targets related to quality as well as speed or volume. They might prompt an audit of design skills and organise appropriate training; and they will ensure that the organisation makes use of expert design advice in the procurement and delivery of each project.

On the ground, design champions operate in a range of different ways, depending on their personal background, the team around them and their organisational culture. The ultimate aim is to embed the delivery of good design in the everyday processes of the organisation.