Design Directions - an innovative programme of awards
This is an awards scheme that frames a series of design briefs within a social context in order to explore the role design can play in response to key challenges in contemporary life.
Design Directions 2008/09
This year's scheme comprises a set of thought provoking projects that take real world issues and asks: where are the opportunities for meaningful design interventions that can deliver change and improvement?
Addressing issues such as crime, security, health, and new services that address enduring and growing social concerns, these projects present opportunities to engage in exciting and challenging areas that demonstrate the power of design to make a difference.
Design Directions Plus
Design Directions Plus offers just such opportunties in two areas high on the current news agenda: the ageing population and prisons. An exciting new concept within the RSA's student scheme, Design Directions Plus is designed to offer the opportunity for contact with, and input from, key experts and stakeholders in the development of your project.
Design Directions Plus projects
Action for age
designing a better future
Supported by:


The visit
designing the prison visit experience
Supported by:

All of this year's eleven projects are open to under graduate and post graduate students, as well as those who graduated in 2008.
Fashion, textiles and ceramics
Please be aware that as we steer the scheme towards projects linked to issues rather than the practice of of particular disciplines, it has not been possible to retain some of the project areas. Therefore we shall not be offering any fashion, textiles or ceramics briefs this year. Past briefs in these areas can be found on the Archives page of this site.
Tutor Briefing Day 2008
This will take place on WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 at the RSA. If you are a tutor we would encourage you to attend this year because, as well as regular project briefings, we shall be offering a half day workshop on service design developed in conjunction with a leading design company and facilitated by other designers and experts. Please download, complete and return the form as soon as possible if you would like to attend as this is being offered free of charge and places are limited.
Tutor briefing day booking form (PDF 1 page, 84KB)





