Design has been defined as the process that links creativity and innovation, it does this by shaping ideas to become practical and attractive propositions for users or customers. Innovation, the successful exploitation of ideas requires the use of design to develop new products, service or processes. This independency is why design is now increasingly seen as a vital part of innovation along with business and technological skills. The contribution of design to innovation processes has been found in several important studies.

Creative sectors such as design are a significant factor in innovation and growth throughout the UK economy. This reflects recent research by NESTA suggesting the creative industries may play a greater role in the UK’s innovation system than has previously been recognized by policymakers. For instance, firms that spend double the average amount on creative inputs  including design is 25 per cent more likely to introduce product innovations. Research found that designers are increasingly being asked by clients for intelligence on future market trends. As a result ‘front-end research’ (e.g. materials development, market evolution), which helps to inform innovation processes and activities, is becoming seen as a staple activity for designers.

Companies that invest in design can avoid competing on price alone

Research has shown that design is a significant source of competitive advantage. Companies that invest in their design capability and develop a reputation for innovation can avoid competing on price alone. In the UK, 45 per cent of firms that don’t use design compete mainly on price; only 21per cent of firms where design is significant do so.

I would personally sign up for this because at the current status of the industry, it would seem like a good opportunity to start a job in design as the current statistics shows the creative industries play a great role in the uk’s innovation system than has done in the past.

There could be several potential outcomes from participating in the industry you could improve your CV, would have become more confident and most importantintly you would have gained experience.

Being a self-employed graphic designer can have a lot of advantages but at the same time can also have a lot disadvantages. However every profession of self-employment has different pros and cons. Some people enjoy working hours on there own and find it refreshing and there perfect environment to complete there job but for others can have the total opposite effect.

Advantages

If you like being the boss, calling all the shots and make all the decisions. Its great for independent people but at the same time this could be a disadvantage for certain people. The main advantages of being a self employed Graphic Designer:

• Flexible Hours – you decided your own hours which means you can have a long lie in and you cant get better than that!

• Work Environment. You can choose where you want to work

• Job Selection. You can decide what kind of job you would like to and the money requested for that job.

• Being in Charge. If you’re a independent person and like being in charge then being self-employed is for you.

Disadvantages

Self-employment can be very hard it is very expensive to start of with. You will have to do a lot of research into self-employment before being able to tackle it. Here are the main disadvantages of being a self-employed Graphic designer.

• Being Alone- For many, the loneliness that comes with self employment is a pretty tough. There’s no boss to look over shoulders and there’s no one to provide a helping hand either. Being self employed, especially in work at home, can be very lonely.

• Job Selection. Finding jobs and work at home opportunities can be a pretty tricky business and it’s much more tedious than enjoyable. Sometimes, the work just isn’t there; and the ones who make a living with work at home might have to tighten their budgets.
• The Insecurity. Self employment doesn’t come with automatic benefits. There is no health insurance, no unemployment, no 401k and no real Plan B already in place. Any retirement planning or personal safety must be dealt with by the professional individually. Purchase life and health insurance policies, invest in some sort of retirement plan and set up a savings account for times when the jobs just aren’t available.

1. The creative industries are those that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent and also refers to a set of interlocking industry sectors that focus on creating unique property, content or design that previously did not exist. Creative industries typically include industries that focus on: creating and exploiting intellectual property products such as music, books, film and games; or providing business-to-business creative services including advertising, public relations and direct marketing. Aesthetic live-performance experiences are also generally included, which contributes to an overlap with definitions of art and culture, and even aspects of tourism and sport. Economic activities focussed on designing, making and selling objects or works of art such as jewellery, haute couture, books of poetry and other creative writing, and fine art are often included in the sector because the value of such objects derives from a high degree of aesthetic originality.

2. The Creative Industries are made up of various sectors like: Advertising, Architecture, Art and Antiques markets, Computer games, Crafts, Design, Designer Fashion, Film and Video, Music, Performing arts, Publishing, Software and TV and Radio.

3. The Creative Industries play a big role in the economy as the world is updating very fast the bigger role creative industries have in it. Particularly as manufacturing industries have become increasingly automated and process-driven. The Creative Industries are said to have accounted for around 4% of the world’s economic output in 1999, which is the last year for which comprehensive figures are currently available.
UK creative industries make a far more significant contribution to output than hospitality or utilities and deliver four times the output due to agriculture, fisheries and forestry. In terms of employment and depending on the definition of activities included, the sector is a major employer of between 4-6% of the UK’s working population, though this is still significantly less than employment due to traditional areas of work such as retail and manufacturing.
Within the creative industries sector in the UK the three largest sub-sectors are design, publishing, and television and radio. Together these account for around 75% of revenues and 50% of employment.

4. The cultural well being of the Creative industries in the industry is increasing each year as the technology of the world is improving and updating everyday. The more the technology of the world updates itself the more is the need for creative industries so it increases each year.

5. The sectors link in a lot of different ways: Advertising can link to all of the above as it could help sell or promote all the areas in the sector.
Film and Video links to Music as there is a lot of music c in films. Architecture links in with Crafts and design. Performing arts link in with Designer fashion or performing arts. Computer and Video games link with Design. Publishing could also link with Art and Antiques markets. Each sector can easily link with another and help each other in both ways.

6. The industry has developed very well it has took a while for it to come to its full potential but it is very on its way now and has become increasingly popular over the past 5-10 years. As some first world countries struggle to compete in traditional markets such as manufacturing, many now see the creative industries as a key component in a new knowledge economy, capable perhaps of delivering urban regeneration, often through initiatives linked to exploitation of cultural heritage that leads to increased tourism. In the UK alone the government figures reveal that UK creative industries account for over a million jobs and brought in a staggering £112.5 billion to the UK economy.