Fresh approach to design
A report by the Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group (APDIG) has called on the government to rethink its relationship with its design providers, and explore design’s potential to unlock innovation for the public sector as previous efforts to improve standards of public sector procurement of creative services have had limited success.
Recommendations include:
- Appointing a Chief Advisor for design and innovation
- A register of expert advisors
- A tailored training programme
- A single, simplified tender approach
- An information and advisory service.
For more information on ‘Design and the Public Good: Creativity versus the Procurement Process?’ go to www.policyconnect.org.uk/apdig/design-and-public-good-creativity-vs-procurement-process
EU news
Single EU patent on horizon
The European Commission is proposing establishing a single EU patent. If agreed, registering a patent enforceable in all 25 EU member states will cost €680.
Under the proposals put forward by the Commission, inventors will apply for ‘unitary’ patent protection at the European Patent Office (EPO), which will protect an invention in all 25 member states.
Read more at www.sciencebusiness.net
Simplified research grants
The League of European Research Universities (LERU) has hit out at the administrative burden of managing research projects funded by the EU’s Framework Programme. It wants to lighten the load and make the rules simpler and more consistent.
Two ideas proposed by LERU are to develop an SME database to make it easier to find potential collaborators in a project, and to simplify the way the calls for proposals are presented so that it becomes easier and faster to find the right funding programme for specific research. Details at www.sciencebusiness.net
Protecting intellectual property
ACID (Anti Copying in Design) has launched the ACID IP Tracker – a simple, digital method of tracking delivery of IP-led and confidential information.
The Tracker ensures graphic designs, drawings, photographs, submissions to tender, responses to briefs and other confidential IP rights-based material sent to third parties include evidence-based delivery confirmation, a copy of which is archived by ACID.
It costs £3.50 (ACID members) or £5.00 (non-members) per transmission. More information at www.acidtrading.eu.com/acid-ip-tracker
Lifeline for design panels
The Design Council CABE has announced grants to the eight affiliated design review panels across England for 2011-12 to enable them to run local design reviews, alongside and closely aligned to CABE’s national design review service. The grants are crucial for the continuation of the panels, following the withdrawal of almost all government funding for the service in March 2011.
More information at http://tinyurl.com/5rpdpx7
Design documentary
BrightInteriors – the sixth in a series of design events, organised by the South Coast Design Forum – presents Contemporary Days: The Designs of Lucienne and Robin Day; a film by Murray Grigor on 15 June at the University of Brighton. It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10.00; SCDF members £7.50 and students £5.00 – available at www.wegottickets.com
Font-tastic
Those looking for typographical inspiration or just with a fascination for fonts will enjoy the history and down-to-earth descriptions provided in the ‘Hidden Gems’ section at fonts.com.
Take a trip down memory lane with Bembo, Plantin and their friends at www.fonts.com/FindFonts/HiddenGems/
Wacky weekly wonders
Desingrfix is promising some light relief every Wednesday with a collection of design-led funky stories and articles from across the web. It’s not mainstream, and not necessarily current, but it could lighten the load! Get your Wednesday fix at http://tinyurl.com/6e3vdle
info@southeastdesign.co.uk
