The passion and creativity of the UK Creative Industries are the envy of the world and give the UK a creative influence out of all proportion to its size.

A qualification in Design can open up many great career opportunities. The creative industries employ more than half a million people in the UK alone. It is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors, and offers many opportunities for those with design qualifications to establish well paid and rewarding careers. And in uncertain economic times, a career in design may offer better opportunities than other so-called ‘safer’ professions.

The variety of design careers available to those graduating with a UK Degree in Design is extremely wide.  As well as working within the fields of communication, publishing and the media, or in the fashion or product design industries, those with design qualifications have opportunities to work as creative directors, or in the management and marketing sectors.

The skills that UK Design graduates gain are highly valued by employers, who are looking for creative, imaginative people who can embrace new ideas and work as part of a team.

The Design industry also offers opportunities to work flexibly. Nearly a quarter of all designers work on a freelance or self-employed basis, many of the working from home-based offices or studios. Modern communications and digital media technologies allow designers to work with clients anywhere in the world, without leaving their own home.  

Graduates may also find employment within design consultancies. Design consultancies come in all sizes, from those employing only a few designers, to major international consultancies with thousands of employees. In addition to this, there are numerous public and private sector businesses and organisations in other areas of the economy who employ in-house design teams.

And there are no age limits to working as a designer. Many designers establish successful design careers in their 20’s; on the other hand, nearly 40% of all designers in the UK are aged 40 or more.

A Design Degree from the UK is widely regarded as the gold standard worldwide. The UK has produced some of the world’s best known designers; among them Terence Conran, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo, James Dyson, Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1 ‘supercar' road car, and Jonathan Ive (designer of the iPod).