"I think British design is important across the world. It's one of the things that makes Britain stand out around the world. I think that's incredibly important. It's part of our global identity," said Ed Vaizey MP in an early morning talk last week for the London Design Festival.
In his talk, which was not letting anything slip about any of the forthcoming government funding decisions, he nevertheless said, "I think it's very very important that the government understands the importance of the creative industries and design... It's what makes our country great and I think that it's telling that a lot of developing nations are looking to us as an example." He spoke too about how important it was for the government to be "plugged in" to the discussions that the London Design Festival is having with other creative industry hubs in emerging design economies abroad.
Talking directly about the Festival, Vaizey paid tribute to the work of Sir John Sorrel and Ben Evans highlighting British design. "Ben and John started the London Design Festival eight years ago and it does show the importance of partnership. I think if government had tried a London Design Festival it would have been a complete and utter disaster. I think it's important that we support these things as they're getting established. I hope the government will be able to support you in some shape or form, either financially or as an enabler. One of the reasons I came here to do this Breakfast Talk and came to the launch is to show that the government knows the London Design Festival is happening and understands how important it is."
