Design, Society and the Economy
An interview with Sir George Cox
In 2005, Sir George Cox, chairman of the Design Council, carried out the Cox Review on creativity in British business for the UK Government.
OnCourse Innovation spoke with Sir George before a seminar on Design, Society and the Economy held in Nottingham, and began by asking him if he considered the UK to be a creative nation.
"Judged on our history and past achievements we most definitely are. By creative, I mean that in terms of the generation of new ideas - either new ways of looking at existing problems, or of seeing new opportunities.
Our record in scientific research is very strong and respected throughout the world, as it is in Fashion, Design, Architecture and Entertainment.
While creativity is the generation of new ideas, which we have in abundance, innovation is the successful exploitation of them and we are perhaps not as strong at that.
There are no protected niches, no quiet backwaters to hide in. Other nations can compete and beat us on price. Quality, tradition and past success is not our reputation by right. We need to utilise creativity and innovation in our products and services in order to differentiate our offering.
There is a certain inertia amongst UK businesses to embrace innovation and creativity and let it drive their business forward. Many of the SMEs we have worked with through the Design Council were happy where they were, comfortable in their market position.
Our IT industry is excellent and as a nation we are superb when forced into action but we need to foster a culture of greater ambition and drive if we are to see the next eBay or Friends Reunited emerging from our shores.
It is difficult to push the agenda from Whitehall, so we need to need to create an amalgam of creative cities and regions using the RDAs and the universities. The messages must come from the local and regional levels if they are to inspire the SMEs, so the OnCourse programme is a welcome initiative.
The emerging economies are both a threat and an opportunity. There are new markets out there to target with new products and services. We need to wake up, be bold and seize the day.
If we don't someone else will.