Encouraging French designers
The Ministry of Culture encourages the creation in design through the orders placed to the designers. It is also involved in various schemes to finance design creation, research and innovation.
Public design orders, a lever for creation
The Ministry of Culture and its institutions frequently use the services of designers. Their needs are indeed numerous, especially in the field of graphic design (design of logos, communication media, signage elements, etc.).
The CAMUS project, a reorganisation of services within the Ministry, is a good example of this, since designers have been asked to produce the signage and layout of the various sites. This project involves the design of objects (interior and exterior furniture) and the design of space (layout of reception areas).
The Department and its institutions aim to be exemplary sponsors. A 2015 circular sets out a set of good practices to which they must comply. This text recalls in particular the obligation for public cultural institutions to offer creators fair working conditions and remuneration. At the end of the day, there are quality creations from practitioners with various profiles.
Funding and aid for designers
The Ministry of Culture contributes financially to the support fund for young design publishers, proposed by the Institute for the Financing of Cinema and Creative Industries (IFCIC) to facilitate access to bank financing through two financing solutions: bank guarantee and the ready.
The devices of the PIA and of France 2030. These investment plans are now open to the Cultural and Creative Industries, of which design is a part.
The Future Investment Programme (AIP), led by the General Secretariat for Investment (SGPI), was set up by the State to finance innovative and promising investments in the territory, to enable France to increase its potential for growth and jobs. Four operators are implementing these measures: Bpifrance, the National Research Agency, ADEME and the Caisse des dépôts-Banque des territoires.
Research in design
Design research aims to evolve its practices and products. It focuses on the marriage of theory and practice. It takes place in schools, doctorates, laboratories and chairs.
The Ministry of Culture contributes financially to the research in design with the Agora of design, which, since 1983, supports the projects of exhibition and research in design through the granting of grants. Two research grants are awarded to designers-researchers to enable them each to produce a project combining theory and practice and a curator’s grant, awarded to an exhibition curator or a collective. The DZING DZING colloquium also offers an exchange on design research with a specific theme.
