Design for Scotland:Towards a National Design Policy for a Creative, Equitable, and Climate-responsive Future

Design is increasingly recognized as a critical resource for addressing<br/>complex societal challenges, yet its potential remains underutilized<br/>within national policy frameworks. In Scotland, as elsewhere, there<br/>is growing momentum to move beyond viewing design solely as<br/>part of the creative industries, towards positioning it as a driver of<br/>economic resilience, social innovation, and systemic transformation.<br/>The Design for Scotland initiative, led by V&amp;A Dundee and supported<br/>by Creative Scotland, responds to this opportunity by advocating<br/>for a national design policy vision that is inclusive, imaginative, and<br/>aligned with urgent priorities. This paper builds on the first phase of<br/>independent research led by GRAFT, Studio AndThen, and How2Glu,<br/>which established the conceptual and methodological foundations<br/>for advocating the broader value of design. We are now entering a<br/>second phase, which aims to bring this vision to life through V&amp;A<br/>Dundee’s status as a national museum mobilizing design-led research,<br/>advocating for both a national design policy and the integration of<br/>design in policymaking, and enabling the cultural activation of these<br/>ideas at scale. This paper sets out a vision for the future of design<br/>policy conversations in Scotland, positioning design as a strategic tool<br/>for governance, well-being, and systemic innovation, while o"ering a<br/>transferable model internationally.