The world of design keeps shifting with every new technology, social trend, and influx of creative budding talent. The UK has been at the forefront of one of the leading countries in both traditional and pioneering design sectors, with a rich design heritage. The most influential creatives today not only reflect on the trends defining today’s presence but also the future of design. This article takes a look at what 10 of the leading designers in the UK say about the future of design, how the new generation of creatives is set to change the landscape, and what it takes to make it in the design world.
Insights from the Top 10 Designers in the UK
Thomas Heatherwick – The creative force behind the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron, if not the iconic Rolling Bridge, Heatherwick sees the future of design in human-centered projects with social impact. He dreams of a world where designers leverage their creative genius to design more than objects of beauty-design that solves real-world problems.
Ilse Crawford – One of the leading interior and product designers of her time, Crawford has pointed to well-being and sustainability as two elements that she believes are key components in future design. She feels designers have a responsibility to create those spaces and products that tend to improve human health and help build connections between people and nature, which is generally seen as increasingly more critical over the coming decades.
Paul Smith-The legendary British fashion designer envisages that the future of design would be a mix between innovation and tradition. He believes that craftsmanship and the story of a design are key in any design, which the new generation of designers must bridge high-tech solutions and preservation of artisanal skills.
Es Devlin- Probably one of the most renowned stage designers, Devlin has been at the forefront in imagining a future where technology merges with the arts. She says, “In the future, there will be more and more immersive design experiences where you become part of the story. Digital design and augmented reality are going to be the tools of the designer in the future.”.
Sir David Adjaye OBE: The famous architect behind the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Adjaye sees architecture moving to community-oriented, sustainable structures. He says, “In design, natural materials and renewable energy will be harnessed-especially as cities seek to reduce environmental impact.
Zaha Hadid Architects-Recognized for pushing the boundaries of modern architecture, this firm envisions the future of design emanating from parametric design and digital fabrication. As materials and technologies evolve, designers will have unprecedented leeway for experimentation with form and structure.
Vivienne Westwood: This highly iconic and definitely eccentric fashion designer cum environmentalist feels that the future of design should be sustainable and ethical. She has long pleaded with the fashion industry to reduce its ecological footprint; hence, she would expect future designers to focus on eco-friendly materials and methods.
Jonathan Ive: The former Chief Design Officer at Apple is literally a god among designers. He insists that the future of design is on minimalism, user experience, and functionality. With young designers, he believes, products and interfaces can only get more intuitive and elegant.
Deyan Sudjic: Former director of London’s Design Museum, Sudjic speaks about where design and culture meet. He believes that design is going to be about truly understanding the way in which culture is developing in the future and making work that can be popular across the world.
Tom Dixon – With his industrial designs, Dixon also stresses the importance of circular design: products that can be reused, recycled, or repurposed. And as the world faces up to environmental challenges, he sees designers of the future at the forefront of creating sustainable systems and processes.
How the New Generation Will Change the Design Landscape
The new generation of designers enter into an already blurred world, disciplinarily speaking. Digital natives are comfortable with technology-a concept and an equipped tool no other generation could dream about. Here are some ways the new generation will reshape the design landscape:
Embracing Technology: From VR to AI, young designers are taking this medium onto their workspaces to create an experience that is more immersive. Merging traditional design practices with digital tools presents a rather lively and experimental approach toward design.
Sustainability as Core Value: Sustainability, which was generally an afterthought for most previous generations, becomes the number one priority of young designers today. From eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs to circular methods of production, the new generation is committed to lowering their environmental impact.
Inclusive Design: Inclusiveness is now one of the mainstays of design today. Young designers are keen on making products, spaces, and services inclusive for all-a design concept that cuts across barriers of age, ability, and background. This inclusive design shift in attitude ripples through not just in how we look at architecture but even how we approach consumer products.
Collaborative Practices: The silos of the past are falling. Designers of this generation create together across disciplines, creating solutions in tandem with engineers, technologists, and social scientists. It’s an interdisciplinary approach that stays at the very linchpin for the future of design.
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The Best Design Companies Hiring in the UK
Below are a few leading UK design companies famous for recruiting and training new talent for opportunities within their various sectors, from architecture to fashion, industrial and graphic design. Here is the list of some of the best design companies that are presently hiring:
Pentagram – one of the world’s largest independent design consultancies working on branding, graphic design, and product design. The company occasionally takes in interns and juniors and offers the possibility to work on high-profile projects.
Foster + Partners- This is a major architectural firm specializing in creative designs and big projects. The company offers internships, graduate programs in architecture, and also in urban design areas.
Burberry- This British luxury fashion house company provides an internship and graduate program within design, marketing, and product development. Burberry will definitely do great for fashion designers willing to get into this field.
Heatherwick Studio: Since the integral approach to design covers everything from architecture to sculpture and goes further on into urban planning, Heatherwick Studio allows young designers to push the limits of creative design.
This new generation of UK designers marks the future of design with creativity through the lenses of sustainability, technology, and inclusivity. The top designers’ insights reveal a common need among them to produce work that is not just aesthetically leading-edge but able to tackle environmental and social issues. Design is always in flux, and the new crop of young designers entering the profession will find great opportunities both in those areas that are well-trusted and those that are emerging.
Only a professionally crafted CV can help you land that first internship in this respectively competitive industry by highlighting creative abilities, technical skills, and passion for design innovation. Be it fashion, architecture, or graphic design-whatever your aspirations are-the future of design holds a bright promise for the UK, with a number of endless possibilities open for those willing to challenge the status quo and think beyond conventional boundaries.
