DESIGN economy workers in Scotland produce £43,100 of output, compared to £33,600 for the overall UK economy, according to a new analysis. But their productivity is lower than the average for design economy workers across the UK as a whole, which is £47,400.

“This research suggests there is a major role for supporting the increased use of design across the country and across certain sectors,” said Stephen Miller, research and evaluation manager at the Design Council, a charity which aims to improve people's lives through the use of design.

Since 2010, the number of design-intensive businesses in Scotland has increased by 40 per cent.