As individuals the way we perceive the contribution design can make to business depends on our background and training. For some design contributes to the way a business communicates visually both internally and externally. For others design is concerned with the way a business creates the products and services that it sells. Some even regard design as a behavioural quality within a business, linked to the way employees think and react to innovation opportunities.

If the organisation you are studying is thinking about investing in design you will want to ensure every effort is made to obtain the most effective design solutions. In reality this will only be achieved if the organisation has developed its capability to handle design activity.

In order to help in this process the UK Design Council has created an assessment framework called Design Atlas. This allows a systematic review of key design success drivers within a business. Equipped with this overview recommendations can be made for the development of capability. Part 1 of this guide describes the territory covered by this audit tool and outlines how it can be used to review design capability within a business.