Design-Nation UK

What Design-Nation UK does

Design-Nation UK is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee founded in 1999 by Peta Levi MBE (originally as New Designers in Business), operating as a national curated portfolio and membership network for UK designer-makers. The organisation is headquartered at the Barbican Creative Hub in Lincoln with a secondary office at The National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, and is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England within the cultural portfolio of North Kesteven District Council. Its core product is a five-tier membership structure (Student, Graduate, Associate, Rising Professional, Professional) supplemented by an Honorary tier, spanning ten craft disciplines including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, furniture, metal, and mixed media. The underlying platform is an online portfolio directory at designnation.co.uk that enables commissioners, collectors, manufacturers, and collaborators to discover vetted UK designer-makers.

The business model is a recurring membership subscription model with tiered fees (specific pricing not publicly disclosed), supplemented by Arts Council and local authority grant funding, programme partnership income (e.g., Creative Futures with the Barbican Creative Hub), and event-driven retail collaborations such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park MADE showcase. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the organisation recruits at university degree shows, curates exhibitions at London Craft Week, London Design Festival, Collect Art Fair, Decorex, and New Designers, and operates a Regional Cluster Hub Network for geographic decentralisation. Distribution combines the online portfolio, physical exhibitions and retail pop-ups, and a multi-channel marketing mix (newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, Linktree).

Design-Nation has supported thousands of designer-makers since inception, secured a record member intake across 2026 rounds, and entered strategic university partnerships with De Montfort University (June 2026) and University of the Arts London (May 2026). Recent product extensions include the Student Membership tier and Honorary Membership programme (both May 2026) and the Creative Futures professional development programme (March 2026). The operating team publicly identified consists of a Director (Clare Edwards) and a Membership Manager (Hayley Banks); financial details, headcount, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Design-Nation UK

Legal name

Design-Nation UK Ltd

Website

https://designnation.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Design-Nation UK is a not-for-profit Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation operating a national curated membership network and online portfolio for UK designer-makers across ten craft disciplines, serving as a discovery and development platform for collectors, commissioners, and creative businesses since 1999.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Industry Membership Services

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

akta.pro primary industry

Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Designer-maker network
• Craft portfolio curation
• Membership organisation
• Creative professional development
• UK design community

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Design-Nation generates revenue through membership fees at multiple tiers including Student, Graduate, Associate, Rising Professional, and Professional membership levels. Each tier offers progressively increasing benefits and support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Design-Nation operates a national curated portfolio and tiered membership network supporting UK designer-makers across ten craft disciplines. Members pay recurring fees to access visibility through an online portfolio, curated exhibitions at major UK design events, mentoring, professional development programmes, retail collaborations, and university partnership opportunities. The organisation is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and part of North Kesteven District Council's cultural portfolio.

Product overview

Design-Nation is a national network and curated portfolio organisation supporting Britain's leading designers and makers. The core offering consists of tiered membership categories (Professional, Graduate, Associate, Student, Rising Professional, and Honorary) that provide a platform for visibility, networking, professional development, and exhibition opportunities. The portfolio spans ten disciplines including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, furniture, wood, metal, and mixed media. The organisation delivers exhibitions and events, professional development programmes, regional cluster hubs, and graduate awards in partnership with UK universities. Founded in 1999, it operates as a not-for-profit company supported by Arts Council England and North Kesteven District Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership Core tier of the membership portfolio for established professional designer-makers seeking visibility for commission, collaboration, sourcing, and collection purposes.
• Graduate Membership Stepping stone membership from education to professional practice, providing access to networking, training, opportunities and resources for emerging designers and makers.
• Associate Membership Entry-level membership tier for emerging designer-makers beginning their professional journey in the craft and design sector.
• Student Membership Membership for students providing opportunities to connect with the wider craft and design sector, build confidence, and grow professional networks. Applications open year-round.
• Rising Professional Membership Bespoke membership tier providing targeted support for designers and makers working towards Professional membership status.
• Honorary Membership Recognition programme for individuals whose creativity, experience and advocacy have made significant contribution to contemporary craft and design; serves as voluntary ambassadors.
• Creative Futures: Skills for Sustainable Practice Series of in-person workshops, online masterclasses, and collaborative meet-ups for designers, makers, and creative professionals covering business skills, digital marketing, pricing strategies, and portfolio career development.
• Online Portfolio Showcase Digital portfolio platform showcasing member work across ten disciplines: Architectural & 3D Product, Ceramics, Furniture & Lighting, Glass, Jewellery, Metal, Mixed Media/Other, Paper/2D/Surface Design & Print, Textiles, and Wood.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• De Montfort University (DMU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Strategic partnership creating opportunities to connect education with the contemporary craft and design sector. Brings together Design-Nation's network of professional makers with DMU's internationally recognised School of Design Innovation. Plans include specialist CPD opportunities, access to specialist workshops and facilities, Maker-in-Residence programme, guest lectures, mentoring, live industry projects, and exhibitions. Both organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• University of the Arts London (UAL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Curated online showcase celebrating emerging talent in contemporary craft and design as part of London Craft Week 2026. Titled 'Crafting Connections', the collection brings together graduate work spanning ceramics, textiles, jewellery and furniture design. Reflects shared commitment to supporting early-career designers and strengthening pathways between education and professional practice.
• Barbican Creative HubmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Creative Futures: Skills for Sustainable Practice - professional development programme running April to July 2026. Offers in-person workshops, online masterclasses, and collaborative meet-ups. Participants receive four-month Associate trial membership with Design-Nation.
• Yorkshire Sculpture ParkmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 March 2026Spring 2026 collaboration as part of YSP's biannual MADE showcase. 20 Design-Nation members displayed in YSP's main visitor centre with work for sale. Highlights craft excellence in ceramics, silversmithing, jewellery and other disciplines.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreOthersDesign-Nation is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, securing major support for its 20th anniversary celebrations and ongoing talent development initiatives.
• North Kesteven District CouncilmajorOthersDesign-Nation is part of the cultural portfolio of North Kesteven District Council, a Lincolnshire-based authority with an established commitment to arts and culture.
• The Design TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth Design-Nation and The Design Trust continue to work collaboratively to support designer-makers to develop and grow a successful creative business practice. Design-Nation was formerly the operating arm of The Design Trust charity founded by Peta Levi MBE. Annual 'One Year In Award' judged and presented jointly.
• Barbican CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarbican Centre referenced for lectures, workshops and participatory projects delivered by members and Honorary Members including Ella Doran.
• V&A MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerV&A referenced for lectures, workshops and participatory projects delivered by Design-Nation members and Honorary Members including Ella Doran.
• Clerkenwell Design WeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferenced for events, workshops and presentations featuring Design-Nation members including Ella Doran.
• DecorexmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership with Decorex and New Designers with an annual curated exhibition. 'One Year In Award' presented with The Design Trust.
• New DesignerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partnership for presenting graduate creative talent. Design-Nation supports DMU's showcase at the event. Founded by Peta Levi MBE who also founded New Designers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crafts Council: The Crafts Council is the UK's national charity for craft and a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England — directly comparable as a public-funded national body curating and championing UK makers, with overlapping events, exhibitions, and member programmes.
• The Design Trust: The Design Trust is Design-Nation's former parent charity (founded by the same person, Peta Levi MBE) and continues to collaborate on the 'One Year In Award' and designer-maker business support — directly comparable as a designer-maker professional development organisation.
• Cockpit Arts: Cockpit Arts operates London-based maker studios and business support programmes for designer-makers across multiple craft disciplines — a directly comparable support infrastructure for independent UK designer-makers, with similar incubator/incubatee-style services.

Others

• London Design Festival: London Design Festival is one of Design-Nation's key event partners and a comparable high-profile platform curating and promoting UK/international designers — comparable as an ecosystem-level showcase and commissioning channel for designers.
• Decorex: Decorex is a long-standing Design-Nation event partner focused on luxury interior design and decorative arts — comparable as a high-end trade venue through which Design-Nation members exhibit and connect with commissioners/retailers.
• New Designers: New Designers was founded by the same Peta Levi MBE who founded Design-Nation and remains a core partner for the annual graduate showcase — comparable as the primary UK funnel for emerging designer talent into Design-Nation's graduate membership tiers.

Regional players

• Crafts Scotland: Crafts Scotland is the national development agency for craft in Scotland, performing a parallel role to Design-Nation for a different UK geography — comparable as a public-funded portfolio/network organisation supporting designer-makers.
• British Ceramics Biennial: British Ceramics Biennial is a Stoke-on-Trent-based curated festival and commissioning programme for ceramic artists — comparable as a craft-specific curated showcase with similar public-funding and partnership model, focused on one of Design-Nation's ten disciplines.
• Making Culture: Making Culture (formerly Craft Northern Ireland) supports makers and craft organisations across Northern Ireland — a clear regional peer performing an analogous national-network function for designer-makers in another UK jurisdiction.

Emerging players

• Flow Gallery: Flow Gallery is a London-based contemporary craft gallery representing designer-makers across ceramics, glass, jewellery and furniture — comparable as a curated retail/showcase channel for the same designer-maker audience Design-Nation serves through its portfolio and partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Design_NationUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/DesignNation.co.uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/Design_NationUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-nation-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Design-Nation UK