Design experts selected to support innovators connecting people with nature

In September, Connected Places Catapult announced a new programme, Design to Deliver, that aims to unlock the potential of the UK design industry to benefit the small businesses tackling some of the country’s biggest challenges. Now, the programme partners have unveiled six design consultancies to join the programme to support innovators as they develop their solutions.

Selection is currently underway for the 12 small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who will be supported through the programme. The six consultancies will each support two SMEs in responding to one of three challenges, set by each of the Catapults on the programme. They will also work alongside a location partner against each of the challenges.

Design to Deliver is a collaboration between three Catapult centres: Connected Places Catapult, Digital Catapult and Satellite Applications Catapult – developed in collaboration with and funded by Innovate UK. Each Catapult has set a challenge in their respective industries, linked by the theme of regenerating nature. The call for applications earlier this year, asked SMEs to come forward with ideas to unlock human behaviours to regenerate nature through leveraging accessible, accurate and actionable information.

The design consultancies selected against each challenge are: 

1. Collective solutions for wild urban places – Led by Connected Places Catapult 
    
   Arup 
   A global sustainable development consultancy that will provide support in human-centred design approaches applied to product and service development, alongside technical expertise in data science and digital software. 
    
   Outlandish 
   A socially-positive agency that will assist SMEs with design–based product development approaches. They work in collaboration with Tranquil City, who provide environmental, built-environment, psychological and data-science expertise.  
    

2. Informed choices for nature positive actions – Led by Digital Catapult 
    
   Good Innovation 
   A social impact innovation consultancy that will work with organisations to design, test and scale new products, services and propositions that have a positive impact on the environment and society. 
    
   Hive IT 
   A full service digital agency specialising in user centred design thinking, providing design support, creative techniques, facilitation and user research expertise. 
    

3. Space-enabled information for a thriving world – Led by Satellite Applications Catapult 
    
   Mima 
   A human-centred design consultancy with 40+ years’ experience supporting SMEs in enhancing the usability and inclusivity of their services. They will bring expertise in UX, service design, critical interface design and human factors to the design process. 
    
   Andthen. 
   A design futures consultancy that will use human, futures, and ventures lenses to design viable products that deliver long-term, sustainable impact  
    

Speaking ahead of the Design Council’s Design for Planet Festival in Manchester, the Catapult’s design team lead, Pete Broadbent said, “I’ve been blown away by the design industry’s response to this project. It is clear there is a real appetite to bring the power of design to bear in support of innovators tackling some of our most pressing issues. Having such a great range of design consultancies on board, from international multidisciplinary firms to specialist boutique agencies, will allow us to tap into a rich seam of insights and provide innovators with the right support.”   

For more information on Design to Deliver programme, visit the programme page, where you can also sign up to receive email updates.