It’s official: Brexit is happening. UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced this past weekend that the process leading to the country’s departure from the European Union would be put into motion before the end of March 2017, promising to strike a deal with the EU as an “independent, sovereign” UK For all the words of reassurance, though, this transition — triggered by a historic referendum in June this year — represents a period of great uncertainty for the creative industries, including architects and designers across all disciplines.
Recognizing the need for the design community to have a collective voice on this issue, architecture and design magazine Dezeen has launched the Brexit Design Manifesto, a “grassroots project” created to send a powerful message to the UK government about the importance of the sector. Since it was launched last month, the document has been signed by a host of influential figures within design including prominent architects such as Thomas Heatherwick, Richard Rogers, Amanda Levete, Alison Brooks, Patrik Schumacher and David Adjaye.
Image via Impact Design Hub
The manifesto emphasizes the achievements of British designers across the EU, aided by the spirit of collaboration present across European design industries throughout the past half-century. “Architectural landmarks such as the Reichstag in Berlin and the Centre Pompidou in Paris fly the flag for our design expertise in the most prominent way possible,” it states.
It also points out the huge advantages of a design industry that is interconnected on a global level, and raises concerns over what might happen if those bonds are broken: “Many ‘British’ designers hail from overseas and were drawn to these shores by our nation’s openness and international connections, and by our world-renowned design schools … As the U.K. prepares for Brexit, the design sector is concerned that these competitive advantages will be lost.”
Image via Dezeen
Countering these potential perils, the document forms a vital tool in lobbying the government to maintain the U.K.’s design sector as a healthy and innovative asset for the country after Brexit. To ensure this is the case, Dezeen has identified five key areas it believes the government should focus on: recognition, education, recruitment, manufacturing and intellectual property.
For a full description of all five key factors and to download Dezeen’s Brexit Design Manifesto in full, click here.
Top image via The Sun