Growth of Scotland's design economy - report published

Scotland’s design economy grows 32% as regional clusters strengthen

According to a recently published report and research by the Design Council, Scotland's design economy grew 32% between 2019 and 2023, outpacing growth across the wider UK economy over the same period.

• Design now accounts for 4.9% of Scotland’s total economic output
• Design-related jobs now account for 5.8% of total Scottish employment
• Strong design clusters are emerging across Scotland, including product and industrial design in East Renfrewshire, craft in Orkney and clothing in East Ayrshire

Design Economy 2026, is the Design Council’s flagship study into the value of design, and shows the scale of design’s contribution across industries, places and jobs, and argues that strengthening design capability will be critical to delivering good growth across the UK. 

The Design Economy 2026 report, which is published every three years, reveals that design now accounts for 4.9% of Scotland’s total GVA, underlining its contribution to the country’s economy.

Employment in design occupations has also risen, increasing by 14% between 2020 and 2025. Design-related jobs now account for 5.8% of total employment in Scotland.

The Design Council says this growing regional contribution demonstrates the potential for design to support successful devolution, place-based innovation and community-led economic development, helping regions translate investment into higher-value jobs and stronger local economies. 

The research also highlights distinctive design strengths across the country, East Renfrewshire, has emerged as a strong cluster for product and industrial design, while Orkney has a notable concentration of craft employment and East Ayrshire has a strong clothing design cluster.

These concentrations show how different parts of Scotland are developing specialist design capabilities, with the potential to support local innovation, higher-value jobs and further economic growth.

Commenting on the report, Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive, Architecture and Design Scotland, and member of the Design Economy advisory group, said:

 "This timely report helps challenge the perception that design is an expensive luxury. As Scotland's champion for good design in the built environment, we often find ourselves having to make the case for the value that architects and designers can add. This report makes that job easier. The recently announced Programme for Government in Scotland sets out radical plans to change how public services will be delivered, and I plan to draw on the report to help show how design could and should sit at heart of this change.”

Mat Hunter, Chief Executive of the Design Council: 

“These figures should change the way we think about design. It is not a niche creative activity sitting at the edge of the economy; it is a £136.7 billion capability embedded in the way organisations effectively innovate, tackle complex problems and grow. What is particularly exciting is the opportunity for growth to reach every part of the UK. Stronger design capability can help cities and regions build on their existing strengths, create higher-value jobs and turn local investment and innovation into a long-term economic advantage. The opportunity now is to make sure that capability is available everywhere - in businesses and public services, across every region and nation - and that we invest in the skills and diversity needed to sustain it for the future.”  

The Design Council says the findings demonstrate the potential for design to support regional growth, place-based innovation and higher-value jobs, and is calling for government, businesses and public bodies to strengthen design capability and invest in regional design ecosystems and the skills pipeline.