- Holistic Value Across Four Domains
The framework identifies four impact areas where design creates value: Social, Financial, Democratic, and Environmental—providing the first unified structure for all types of design stakeholders [source]. - Developed Through Rigorous Research
Co-created by Design Council, BOP Consulting, and UAL’s Social Design Institute between January 2021 and April 2022 via deliberative research, and set to evolve as a working prototype adaptable across contexts [source]. - Structured for Multiple Scales & Users
- Includes a Value Map outlining domains, design mechanisms (projects vs. organizations), and impact lifespan stages.
- Provides a Value Assessment Table with three levels of indicators—from universal to context-specific—with signposted tools for measurement [source].
- Four Value Domains Explained
- Social: Empathy-led solutions that boost accessibility, behavioral change, and community engagement.
- Financial: Helps sharpen strategy, reduce risk, drive cost savings, and improve investment readiness.
- Democratic: Promotes inclusive decision-making, transparency, and shared agency.
- Environmental: Enables regenerative outcomes like reduced footprint, circularity, and ecological integration [source].
- Capturing Direct and Spillover Effects
The framework maps outcomes at three phases—design, production, and lifespan—for both project-level and organizational actions, including broader spillover impacts like paradigm shifts or systemic changes [source]. - Case Studies Highlighting Tangible Impact
- Salford Wetlands: Protects 2,000 homes from flooding, enhances biodiversity, and strengthens community pride [source].
- Carrefour’s “Act for Food”: Contributed to EU law changes, delivered +3.1 % global sales and +9 % stock value, catalyzing sustainable supply-chain reforms [source].
- ProxyAddress: Piloted with 50 residents and regulators, inspiring scalable public-sector innovation [source].
- Sector-Wide Academic & Practical Applicability
Integrated with UN SDGs, balanced scorecards, and sector toolkits (e.g., BREEAM), yet designed to be non-prescriptive, evolutionary, and adaptable—including room to capture negative impacts [source]. - Guidance for Practitioners & Commissioners
Use the framework to:- Plan and assess projects or organizational practice.
- Facilitate stakeholder conversations and identify value trade-offs.
- Incorporate values like joy, justice, or paradigm shifts that traditional tools may miss [source].
- Designed to Evolve and Scale
Continuing iterations include public experimentation (starting September 2022) and integration into Design Council’s broader Design Economy program—aimed at catalyzing ecosystem-level change [source].
Bottom Line
The Design Value Framework offers a comprehensive, multi-layered methodology to visualize, measure, and communicate the broader impact of design—spanning social equity, environmental regeneration, democratic engagement, and economic value—while remaining flexible, scalable, and evolving.