Design is one of our nation's greatest strengths and plays a key role in the "soft power" we project overseas. Our architects and designers are recognised for their creativity and expertise, creating world-class buildings, infrastructure, products, services, clothing and software.

London is acknowledged as one of the world's design capitals but this is far from being a London-centric industry – 60% of creative businesses are outside the capital.

The sector is a huge asset to the UK both culturally and economically. It is the fastest-growing part of the UK's creative industries, generating over £71.7 billion in goods and services a year and employing more than 1.5 million people.

Design has been at the heart of our identity for hundreds of years, from Thomas Chippendale and Christopher Wren to Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Robin and Lucienne Day.

Contemporary UK designers including Jonathan Ive, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Zaha Hadid, Tom Dixon and Barber & Osgerby have shaped the modern world and helped provide a globally recognised visual identity for our country, influencing our lives and our sense of who we are.

Architectural landmarks such as the Reichstag in Berlin and the Centre Pompidou in Paris fly the flag for our design expertise in the most prominent way possible, while we lead the world in sectors such as car and gaming design.

But design is not just about famous names and projects. It can help deliver better quality, more efficient and more enduring infrastructure across the country – as it has done for centuries via the work of the great architects and engineers of the past, whose landmarks still serve and help define our nation.

Brexit presents the architecture and design sector with a challenge. Design has benefited from the UK's membership of the EU. The continent is the most important export market for design services and the largest talent pool for employees.

But design is not only a European industry – it's global. Many "British" designers hail from overseas and were drawn to these shores by our nation's openness and international connections, and by our world-renowned design schools. Their creative minds have vastly enriched our nation's life and helped develop our unique design scene.

As the UK prepares for Brexit, the design sector is concerned that these competitive advantages will be lost. This would be a loss to the whole nation.

Here's what the sector needs from government to help it rise to the challenge. After Brexit, the UK will need a successful design industry more than ever, since designers solve problems and thrive in challenging circumstances.

In order to continue to grow, the architecture and design sector needs help in the following five areas:

Recognition: the government should take note of the sector's cultural and economic importance and pursue policies to help it thrive after Brexit. In particular, it should help the sector maintain and develop the strongest possible ties with Europe and the rest of the world.

Education: design should be championed in schools to inspire future generations of designers. Higher education requires investment to compete with the best in the world and must continue to attract the brightest overseas minds. Student exchange programmes and research links must be retained.

Recruitment: to retain their edge, design firms need to be able to recruit talent from anywhere in the world with a minimum of bureaucracy. And after graduating in the UK, the brightest overseas students should be able to join firms here, or start their own. EU employees already working for UK design firms must be allowed to remain in the country.

Manufacturing: with policies to support both small and large manufacturers, designers can help strengthen UK industry. Government should recognise that design can lead to better, more competitive products.

Intellectual property: with the UK no longer part of EU rights law, designers will need reassurance that they will be able to get international protection for their ideas with a minimum of cost and bureaucracy.

In summary, intelligently designed products, services and systems can help improve individual lives, business competitiveness and community cohesion.

But first, let's ensure that policies are in place to help the sector deliver a prosperous future for all.

The Brexit Design Manifesto is supported by: Terence Conran (founder, Conran + Holdings) Richard Rogers (partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners) Ivan Harbour (partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners) Thomas Heatherwick (founder, Heatherwick Studio), Tom Dixon (founder, Tom Dixon) Jasper Morrison (founder, Jasper Morrison) John Pawson (founder, John Pawson) Marc Newson (founder, Marc Newson Ltd) David Adjaye (founder, Adjaye Associates) Paul Priestman (co-founder, PriestmanGoode) Amanda Levete (founder, AL_A) Deyan Sudjic (director, Design Museum) Ilse Crawford (founder, Studioilse) Jay Osgerby (co-founder, Barber and Osgerby) Edward Barber (co-founder, Barber and Osgerby) Alice Rawsthorn (critic) Rohan Silva (founder, Second Home) David Shrigley (artist) Antony Gormley (artist) Patrik Schumacher (director, Zaha Hadid Architects) Ross Lovegrove (founder, Lovegrove Studio) Design Business Association David Linley (Viscount Linley) Benjamin Hubert (founder, Layer) Max Lamb (founder, Max Lamb) Nigel Coates (founder, Nigel Coates) Paul Cocksedge (co-founder, Paul Cocksedge Studio) Micha Weidmann (founder, Micha Weidmann Studio) Judy Dobias (managing director, Camron PR) Marcus Fairs (co-founder and editor-in-chief, Dezeen) Anna Winston (architecture and design writer, and digital consultant) Max Fraser (writer) Peter Marigold (founder, Peter Marigold Studio) Bethan Ryder (deputy editor, Telegraph Luxury) Donna Wilson (founder, Donna Wilson) Sheridan Coakley (founder, SCP) George Clarke (TV presenter, architect, designer) Will Hudson (founder and director, It's Nice That) Alex Bec (managing director, It's Nice That) James Mair (founder, Viaduct) Lee Broom (founder, Lee Broom) Sebastian Cox (founder, Sebastian Cox) Sebastian Wrong (founder, Wrong London) Philippe Malouin (founder, Philippe Malouin) Wayne Hemingway (co-founder, Hemingway Design) Luke Pearson (co-founder, PearsonLloyd) Tom Lloyd (co-founder, PearsonLloyd) Michael Marriott (founder, Michael Marriott) Sebastian Conran (CEO, Sebastian Conran Associates) Robert Mull (architect and educator) Sam Jacob (founder, Sam Jacob Studio) Phil Coffey (founder, Coffey Architects) Kieran Long (keeper, department of Design Architecture and Digital, V&A) Bethan Laura Wood (founder, Wood London) Bethan Gray (founder, Bethan Gray Design) Ben Evans (director, London Design Festival) Asif Khan (founder, Asif Khan) William Knight (show director, 100% Design) Libby Sellers (founder, Libby Sellers Gallery) Dick Powell (co-founder, Seymour Powell) Claire Catterall (head of exhibitions, Somerset House) Bodo Sperlein (founder, Bodo Sperlein) David Gill (founder, David Gill Gallery) Matthew Hilton (founder, Matthew Hilton) Je Ahn (co-founder, Studio Weave) Terence Woodgate (founder, Terence Woodgate Studio) David Marks (co-founder, Marks Barfield) Jeremy Till (head, Central Saint Martins and pro-vice chancellor, University of the Arts London) Daniel Charny (professor of design, Kingston University and founder, Fixperts) Andrew Waugh (co-founder, Waugh Thistleton) Chris Sanderson (co-founder, The Future Laboratory) Martin Raymond (co-founder, The Future Laboratory) Tara Bernerd (founder, Tara Bernerd & Partners) Alex Michaelis (co-founder, Michaelis Boyd) Tim Boyd (co-founder, Michaelis Boyd) Piers Taylor (founder, Invisible Studio Architects) Sebastian Bergne (founder, Sebastian Bergne) Jon Powell (co-founder, Modus) Dan Ziglam (co-founder, Deadgood Ltd) Anthony Dickens (founder, Studio Make Believe) Chris Romer-Lee (co-founder, Studio Octopi and CEO, Thames Baths) Jason Bruges (founder, Jason Bruges Studio) Sophie Conran (founder, Sophie Conran) David Collins Studio Tala LED Michael Sodeau (founder, Michael Sodeau Studio) Matteo Fogale (co-founder, De Allegri Fogale) Laetitia de Allegri (co-founder, De Allegri Fogale) Douglas Hodgson (co-founder, TDO Architecture) Francis Sultana (founder, Francis Sultana) Guy Salter (chairman, London Craft Week) John Miller (co-founder, MARK Product) Livia Lauber (co-founder, Loris&Livia) Loris Jaccard (co-founder, Loris&Livia) Simon Alderson (co-founder, Twentytwentyone) Tony Cunningham (co-founder, Twentytwentyone) Richard Stevens (co-founder, Forpeople) Tom Bartlett (founder, Waldo Works) Sean Sutcliffe (co-founder, Benchmark) Lucy Kurrein (founder, Lucy Kurrein) Jo Sampson (founder, Jo Sampson Studio) Amy Hunting (co-founder, Hunting & Narud) Oscar Narud (co-founder, Hunting & Narud) Sally Mackereth (founder, Studio Mackereth) Kia Utzon-Frank (founder, KUF Studio) Phineas Harper (deputy director, Architecture Foundation) David Kohn (founder, David Kohn Architects) Anna Murray (co-founder, Patternity) Grace Winteringham (co-founder, Patternity) Faye Toogood (founder, Studio Toogood) Gareth Williams (head of design, Middlesex University) Jane Pavitt (dean, School of Humanities, Royal College of Art) Sarah Teasley (head of programme, History of Design, Royal College of Art) Rama Gheerawo (director, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art) Joe Morris (co-founder, Duggan Morris Architects) Jonathan Barnbrook (founder, Barnbrook) Loris Jaccard (co-founder, Loris&Livia) Paul Simmons (co-founder, Timorous Beasties) Russell Pinch (founder, Pinch Design) Tara Bernerd (founder, Tara Bernerd & Partners) Thorsten van Elten (founder, Thorsten van Elten) Simon Hamilton (customer experience manager, Interface Ltd) Es Devlin (stage designer) Ben Rousseau (founder, Rousseau Design Ltd) Bill Amberg (founder, Bill Amberg Studio) Charlotte Fiell (co-founder, Fiell Publishing Limited) Peter Fiell (co-founder, Fiell Publishing Limited) Pereen d'Avoine (founding director, Russian for Fish) Sabine Zetteler (director, Zetteler) Tony Cunningham (co-founder, Twentytwentyone) Neil Byrne (founder, Tomorrow PR) Jamie Dobson (head of school, School of Communication Design, University for the Creative Arts) Henrietta Thompson (editor at large, Wallpaper) Jack Self (director, REAL and editor-in-chief, REAL review) David Lyndon (co-founder, Lyndon Goode Architects) Chris Lim (programme director, Product Design, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee) Alexander Taylor (founder, Alexander Taylor Studio) Zerlina Hughes (director, Studio ZNA Ltd) Stuart Walker (professor of Design for Sustainability and co-founder and director, ImaginationLancaster Design Research Centre, Lancaster University) Susanne Isa (Architecture Year 1 design coordinator, University of Greenwich) Matt Railton (creative director, Four Colman Getty) Lucy Bullivant (founder and creative director, Urbanista.org) Felix de Pass (founder, Felix de Pass) Ella Doran (founder, Ella Doran Design Ltd) Davina Weir-Willats (founder, Cultural-Agenda) Stephane Hof (founder, Hoffice) Simon Herron (academic Leader in Architectural Technology and postgraduate design studio tutor to Diploma Unit 16, University of Greenwich) Margaret Briffa (solicitor and founder, Briffa) Amos Marchant (founder, Amos Marchant Design Studio) Chris Billinghurst (creative director, Upcycled Homes) Joseph Baxter (design student, Nottingham Trent University) Seetal Solanki (founder, Ma-tt-er) Hannah Martin (founder, Hannah Martin London) Simon Goode (co-founder, Lyndon Goode Architects) Je-Uk Kim (founder, JiB Design Studio) Jess Tully (founder, Jess Tully Creative Strategy and Communications) Ibrahim Muasher (graduate, Architectural Association) David Michon (founder, David Michon) Christy Cole (co-founder, Briggs & Cole and founder, Office for the Design Economy) David Irwin (founder, David Irwin Design Studio) Bianca Moldoveanu (graduate, Architectural Association) Anna Jacobs (founder, Anna Jacobs Design) David Hawkins (head of school of Design and Art, Curtin University) Thomas Lane (editor, BD) Alba Bayona (creative director, Eiger Gallery) Deborah Spencer (founder, designjunction) Martin Postler (co-founder, Postlerferguson) Ian Ferguson (co-founder, Postlerferguson) Maria Smith (founder, Interrobang) Manchester Society of Architects Lara Bohinc (creative director, Lara Bohinc) Olswang LLP Adam Holloway (founder, Adam Holloway Architects) Francesco Draisci (founder, Draisci Studio) Gemma Roper (interaction designer, Apple) Jimmy MacDonald (founder, London Design Fair) Katherine Sandford-Anderson (founder, Sandford PR) Dean Pauley (designer, Micha Weidmann Studio) Vincent Hartman (marketing manager, Amos Beech Commercial Interiors) Sara Jaafar (founder, 1 Millimetre) Peter Tennent (director, Factorydesign) Neil Davies (founder, Neil Davies Architects) Marion Friedmann (founder, Marion Friedmann Gallery) Magnus Long (founder, Magnus Long Design Studio) Londonprintstudio Jenny Hall (design writer, co-author of Design: The Whole Story) Christopher Lee (co-founder, Serie Architects) Cezary M Bednarski (founder, Studio Bednarski) Nina Tolstrup (founder, Studiomama) Simon Paterson (founder, Paterson AS Limited) Nick Pearson (founder, Origin Furniture) Mat Bembridge (senior design consultant, Philips Lighting BV) Katie Treggiden (founder, Confessions of a Design Geek) Jake Phipps (founder, Jake Phipps Limited) Eddie Blake (architect, Sam Jacob Studio) David Bull (founder, David Bull Design) Craig Rice (director, Gradus Limited) Bill Holding (co-founder, Morph UK LTD) Adam White (director, Factory Design) Sherezade Casado (design coordinator, Day2 Interiors) Matthew Galvin (founder, Galvin Brothers) Giovanni Corrado (creative director, Baroncelli) Duncan Holding (director of Art and Design Technology, Greenshaw High School) Daniel Alderson-Smith (director of contracts, Conran) Caroline Denyer (founder, Growlmama) Anna Louise Davies (interior architect) Alex Swain (founder, ByALEX) Claudius König (founder, CloserLondon Limited) Barbie Blanchard (property professional and mother of architect) Ewa Idzik (fashion designer) Martin Sulzbach (art director and graphic designer) Ben Capper (fomer director, Ralph Capper Interiors Manchester and interior consultant) Arabella Lewis-Smith (managing director and founder, Salad Brand+Communication) Noni Braithwaite (graphic design graduate, Kingston University) Del Hossain (founder, Adrem) Bompas & Parr Alison Brooks (founder, Alison Brooks Architects) Grimshaw Architects James Plant (founder, James Plant) Jane Withers (curator and founder, Jane Withers Studio) Terry Farrell (founder, Farrells) Mark Eley (co-founder, Eley Kishimoto) Wakako Kishimoto (co-founder, Eley Kishimoto) Niall McLaughlin (founder, Niall McLaughlin Architects) Mark Middleton (managing partner, Grimshaw) Mark Henderson (co-founder, The New Craftsmen and chairman, Gieves & Hawkes) Paul Karakusevic (co-founder, Karakusevic Carson Architects) Sheppard Robson Shay Alkalay (co-founder, Raw Edges) Yael Mer (co-founder, Raw Edges) Theo Samaras (lead 3D artist/visualiser, Tara Bernerd & Partners) Sophie Bates (director, Sophie Bates Architects) Sarah Douglas (creative director, Wallpaper*) Lucy James (PR and marketing manager, SCP) Kim Corbett (founder, Adventures in Furniture) James Melia (founder and creative director, Blond Ltd) Elly Ward (co-founder and director, Ordinary Architecture Limited) Forbes Massie (founder, Forbes Massie) Roksanda Ilincic (founder, Roksanda) Roberto Sideris (BA Product Design student, UAL Central Saint Martins) Yuri Suzuki (sound artist and designer) Florian Dussopt (founder, Florian Dussopt Design Studio) Dids Macdonald (chief executive, Anti Copying in Design (ACID) and vice chair, Alliance for Intellectual Property) Ali Morris (design writer) Alix Cumersdale (design associate, Finch Interiors) Crafts Council Rosy Greenlees (executive director, Crafts Council) Dan Hill (writer and associate director, Arup) James O'Callaghan (director, Eckersley O'Callaghan) Brian Eckersley (director, Eckersley O'Callaghan) Wilkinson Eyre Tobi Schneidler (CEO and founder, Bouncepad) María Benitez (co-founder, Studio Maau) Audrey Stallard (co-founder, Studio Maau) Benjamin Alexander Hawkins (architect, Granit Chartered Architects) Cressida Granger (managing director, Mathmos) Felicity Bell (founder, Studio Felicity Bell) Martin Kerem (founder, Genium) Michael Clarke (architect, LyndonGoode Architects) Olivia Mudie (director, Concrete Communications) Sean Griffiths (founder, Modern Architect (former FAT director)) Simone du Bois (director, Decorex International) Tate Harmer Elliot Brook (co-founder and director, Deadgood Ltd) Marno Herinckx (recruitment practice lead, RIBA Appointments) Melanie Guy (artist, Melanie Guy and designer, Alastair Guy Playgrounds) Paul Perkins (director, Perky Productions Ltd) Sam Oxley (development director, Produce UK) Tash Walker (founder, The Mix London) Rachel Bray (head of studio, Soapbox) Coralie Lew (design studio director, Shaun Clarkson ID) Arantza Vilas (founder, Pinaki Studios) Philip Johnson (director, Locate East Sussex) Carlo Viscione (creative director, Made With Volume) Åsa Bäckman (co-founder and director, Milk:studio architects) Barnaby Barford (artist) Alex Kimber (design engineer) Christian Papa (creative director, HMKM) Corinne Twining (tile designer, Persian Glazes) Elizabeth Wilhide (writer) Ewan Venters (CEO, Fortnum & Mason) George Thompson (designer, maker and founder, Tenement) Jeff Durber (senior lecturer, Sheffield Institute of Art, Sheffield Hallam University) Kal Chottai (UX consultant, service designer and creative strategist, Damdesign, Flinta) Linda Hewson (creative director, Selfridges) Louisa Pacifico (chief executive, Craft Central) Nigel Carrington (vice chancellor, UAL) Paul Beale (founding director, Electrolight) Samuel Wilkinson (founder, Samuel Wilkinson Studio) Sophie Leach (assistant general secretary and AD editor, National Society for Education in Art and Design) Tony Chambers (editor-in-chief, Wallpaper) Juliana Ribeiro (project director, Produce UK) Sophie Jump (theatre designer and associate director, Seven Sisters Group) Fiona Watt (honorary secretary, The Society of British Theatre Designers) Council for Higher Education in Art and Design Kim Colin (co-founder, Industrial Facility) Sam Hecht (co-founder, Industrial Facility) Sameera Hanif (founder, Sameera Hanif Communications) Ian Farren (associate dean – academic development, Plymouth College of Art) Hannah Martin (founder and creative director, Hannah Martin Ltd) Carlisle Design Studio Daniela Livaccari (architect, Echo Architecture) Ellie Burroughs (student, RIBA Part II, Northumbira University) Toby Anstruther (founder, Brompton Design District) Colin Anderson (associate, GD Lodge Architects) Rosie Motion (scenographer, Rosie Motion Designs) Rory Black (student, BA Graphic Design, Falmouth University) Daniel Gava (director, Arper UK Ltd) Make Architects Martyn Thompson (founder, Martyn Thompson Studio) Andrew Grant (founder and director, Grant Associates) Richard Hudson (theatre designer) Karolina Maria Roziecka (set and costume designer) Petra Hjortsberg (theatre and performance designer) Mark Paulley (student, BA Graphic Design, Falmouth University) Yehya Al-Hafidh (student, BA Graphic Design, Falmouth University) Scott Moyse (student, BA Graphic Design, Falmouth University) Hilary Statts Evans (theatre designer and lecturer, Bridgend College) Katie Scott (theatre and performance designer) Paul Middlebrook (co-founder, The Allotment Brand Design) Jane Goodsir (marketing manager, Londonprintstudio) Jody Leach (founder, Jody Leach Design) Henry Bourne (photographer and author) Zina Preston (retired) Alexander Rakita (founder and director, AR Architecture) Ray Leek (founder, RLD) Ashley Gilbert (director, Anglepoise) Mateusz Wlosek (student, MArchD, Oxford Brookes University) Thomas Linzey (student, BA Architecture, Oxford Brookes University) Paul Burgess (theatre designer) Andreas Skourtis (architect and scenographer) Robin Soutar (performance designer) Paul Dean (founder, Drinkall Dean) Dovile Vaitekunaite (UK sales manager, BD Barcelona Design) David Beirne (co-founder, Bright Potato) Diego Martinez Pereira (co-founder, Bright Potato) Matt Lindsay (communications assistant, RS Developments) John McCart (principal, John McCart Architect) Tim Ames (designer, Mister Ames)