About
About Design Declares
Climate breakdown has begun. And business as usual is not an option.
That’s why we started Design Declares.
Inspired by a global declaration movement sounding the alarm in industries everywhere, we’re an industry-recognised initiative representing the fears, hopes and commitment to action of a growing group of designers, design studios, agencies and institutions.
Together, we sit at the very beginning of the creative process. The tools we use and the choices we make can influence society’s behaviour, change economies and challenge everything that’s come before.
Because design, whether it’s a product, a piece of packaging or an exhibition space, has impact. It’s up to us whether that impact is harmful or healing.
We’re glad you’re here. Let’s get to work.
- Design Declares is free.
- ‘Design’ to us means industrial, digital, graphic, communication and service design.
- Design Declares offers support to all its signatories through shared best practice, resources and insights, all found in the Toolkit.
- Our signatories use the clarity of the 8 Acts of Emergency as a way to start meaningful conversations and actions in collaboration with colleagues, collaborators and clients.
- We welcome declarations from companies with an office and/or employing at least one full-time designer, and from practising freelance designers who are registered as self-employed in the UK. All signatories will be named and published on this site.
- As a collective voice, we will liaise with other industry organisations and networks, constructively engaging with government, clients and design media.
Global Partnerships
We invite our colleagues from across the design industry to join us in declaring an emergency, and starting to take urgent action.*
The acts of emergency above are the first (big) steps. As we all commit to this work, we must also commit to doing it in a way that is genuinely inclusive and equitable.
It doesn’t matter where on the journey you are. What matters is that you’re here, and you’re ready to do the work. Because there is no design on a dead planet.
The Designers Behind Design Declares UK
Inspired by the global emergency declaration movement demanding accountability and action across industries, Design Declares is the initiative of a multidisciplinary group of design professionals and agencies who all believe in the power of design to change things.
Steering Group
Abb-d Taiyo
Driftime®
Alexie Sommer
URGE Collective
Aurelie Lionet
Design for Life
Jo Barnard
Morrama