Design Council launches DOTT, a £50m regional design initative
The UK Design Council launched today Design of the time (DOTT, in short), a £50 million, ten-year initiative to re-design the UK that begins in North East England in 2007.
DOTT, which is lead by John Thackara, gives the UK public the chance to help design the places where they live, work and play. It will, according to the organisers provide a unique opportunity for designers, businesses and public service organisations to engage with the public in practical explorations of the role that design can play in improving every aspect of people’s lives.
Every two years the Design Council will work with a UK region or nation to roll out an ambitious, year-long design programme. The aim each time will be to improve national life through design.
The first DOTT, in 2007, will be a partnership with One NorthEast, the regional development agency for North East England. It will have three distinct elements: public design commissions, education programmes and a programme of design showcase event.
[…] Like the North-East in England and Zollverein, Essen in Germany, the Belgian former mining area of Genk is using creativity and design as tools to transform the area in an innovative, sustainable and qualitative way and to generate new approaches to education, culture, economic development and recreation. […]