Fieldnotes

Published by the Design Council, Design Economy 2026 presents design as a distributed economic capability rather than a discrete creative sector. Its growth narrative is substantial: design-generated GVA rose by 40% between 2019 and 2023, almost twice the rate of the wider UK economy. Nearly four in five designers now work outside design industries, including in finance, healthcare, manufacturing and government, while employment in these sectors has grown faster than within design industries.

Zurich Design Weeks 2026 is a public festival exploring design through exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and guided walks. Its aim is to examine how design shapes social, economic and environmental conditions while creating opportunities for exchange, participation and practical engagement.

Architecture and political power have long been intertwined. Through scale, form and symbolism, monumental buildings make authority visible and give permanence to political visions, while architects gain influence, recognition and major commissions. Focusing on Le Corbusier’s designs and urban projects, the exhibition examines this ambivalent tradition, including his compelling visions of social reorganisation and his troubling proximity to fascism.

Until November 29, 2026 at Pavillon Le Corbusier, Zurich