About us

All the team except Wendy Jones, our intrepid project support and assurance executive.

Design Knowledge Network formed in 2002 with financial support from the European Union Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands. Our aim is to help companies achieve their business goals as easily and effectively as possible through improvements to processes, products, design innovation, marketing and communication.

The team combines expertise in industrial design, design research, fine arts, business management, marketing and corporate communications.

Design Knowledge Network has created over 180 research and consultancy reports for a variety of businesses. These include established manufacturers, designer-makers, companies working on technologically-innovative products and start-up outfits. The reports have focused on:

• design auditing;
• consumer, competitor and trends research;
• marketing and communications strategies; and
• support for the initial stages of product design and development.

Our base at Birmingham City University enables us to draw on key research and technological developments, in support of our work with companies. We also have strong links with other agencies, research establishments and industry organisations that help companies prosper.

(L-R: Christine Foss, Navin Sood, Iain Acton, Kathryn Burns, Adrian Burns)