Designed in Britain, Made in Britain

"We want the words: 'Made in Britain, Created in Britain, Designed in Britain, Invented in Britain' to drive our nation forward. A Britain carried aloft by the march of the makers" said Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne in his 2011 Budget speech. In his prime time BBC documentary Evan Davis argued that creativity and innovation is the life blood of the British economy and mapped future scenarios. We have created a globalised economy in which new materials and processes proliferate, products and services have merged, digital and analogue are a continuum, and R&D funding models are being fundamentally challenged. Yet high quality manufacturing is still core to London and its hinterland - from Coca Cola to Ford Motors, tractor makers to electrical products manufacturers - and many global companies choose London as their creative hub.

During this STIR lecture we will be exploring important themes arising from these various perspectives. Is the city again becoming a viable site for manufacturing? Can we re-design design to help London, and the UK, build on its manufacturing strengths? How can we better integrate design and manufacturing? Where can education and national and local government help? And what are the credible design-manufacturing visions for London's economic future which could influence strategy over the next 50 years?

At the end of the formal sessions you will be able to carry on the conversation with the speakers and other Festival attendees over drinks whilst viewing the second showing of Design London's exhibition, 'The Design London Story', which marks its fourth anniversary.

The lecture and debate will be chaired by Nico Macdonald, who writes and consults on design and innovation and is co-author of BIG POTATOES: The London Manifesto for Innovation (bigpotatoes.org).