An Obituary for Design Week

It is with a heavy heart I write this article. UK design industry bible is closing its doors after 36 years in business. The site had long ago transitioned into a web-only publication but still held a place as the only magazine dedicated to the domestic market.

As a sector that adds nearly £100bn to the UK economy every year, the Creative Sector is a huge driver of business and culture and adds constant value to everybody’s lives. For as long as I can remember, Design Week was the place to go to keep up on the work of different individuals and studios, what conferences and exhibitions were worth visiting and also acted as a job vacancy aggregator long before the internet came along.

As a graduate in the field I have been reading Design Week for nearly 25 years, as far back as sitting my high school GCSE exams. I will admit that I did this somewhat pretentiously at sixth form, but the articles and advice rubbed off. I wouldn’t be in the career I am today without the help of that publication.

Long a champion for the sector as much as a reporter, the UK government has eroded its power over the last decade with an educational program fixated on rote and academic subjects. These have their place in the timetable but they have been at the expense of areas involving creativity and problem solving. Indeed a recent report from the UK parliament upper chamber has put them to rights on this very issue. Design Week remained a champion of the art and design subjects and brought attention to a wider audience.

Barring some last minute white knight, Design Week will go offline in January and so it is that as well as those long gone this Christmas I will raise a glass to Design Week and hope the staff all go on to brighter things.