The Bristol area is a strong national hub for leading design – with many iconic examples ranging from the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Wallace and Gromit – according to a new report.
Research conducted by the Bristol and Bath by Design (BBxD) project reveals that the area’s design prowess also plays a key role in its much-lauded creativity and innovation. 
As a result, the area has become a national ‘go to’ hub for designers from multiple disciplines.
The project has spent the past two years collecting data on design companies in and around Bristol and Bath to gain a better understanding of the economic and cultural value of the design-led sector.
Design is integral to a diversity of commercial activity in the region in its role as a process for creativity, innovation and problem solving, as a means of communication, and in the value it adds to the experience of the consumer, it says.
The report found that across all design sectors, designers cited the regional network of flexible, highly-skilled companies and individuals that can be relied upon to deliver a project, as well as a strong community of people that are open to ideas and ventures, as key reasons for success and for remaining in the region.
The project has been led by a research team at UWE in collaboration with the University of Bristol and Bath Spa University and was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Design Council.
The BBxD project has also produced an app showing the location of freelancers and companies in all areas of design, including engineers, filmmakers, graphic designers, architects, website developers, technology firms and more.
BBxD worked with Bristol games design firm Arcfire to create the app to map and visualise the extent of design in the region. It shows more than 3,300 companies in the area, spanning a range of design functions from engineering to graphic design, as the location of freelancers and companies in all areas of design including engineers, film makers, graphic designers, architects, website developers, technology firms and more.
The project was led by Prof Carinna Parraman, UWE senior research fellow and deputy director at the Centre for Fine Print Research.
She said: “Good design makes an important contribution to lifestyle as demonstrated by positive regional exemplars Cameron Balloons, Wallace and Gromit, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and the Georgian architecture of Bath.”
An event to promote the report and showcase the app is being held at the newly restored Everyman Cinema on Whiteladies Road, Clifton, at 5pm on Tuesday November 1.
The launch event will give the design community the chance to hear about the new report, as well as trying out the app and see the premier of a film that showcasing the findings of the research project.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council funds world-class, independent researchers in a wide range of subjects: history, archaeology, digital content, philosophy, languages, design, heritage, area studies, the creative and performing arts, and much more.
