The ‘Paul Smith’ of Websites wins Design of The Year 2013

GOV.UK has won the coveted title of Design of the Year 2013.

The website was designed by the Government Digital Service (GDS) and has combined all of the UK government’s websites into a single domain.

Deyan Sudjic, Director of Design Museum said: “GOV.UK looks elegant, and subtly British thanks to a revised version of a classic typeface, designed by Margaret Calvert back in the 1960s.

“It’s the Paul Smith of websites.”

GOV.UK WEBSITE – Designed by Government Digital Service

The winning design was chosen from 98 entries to claim the overall prize.

Design of the Year jury member Griff Rhys Jones said: “It is an extremely complicated task to look through such a vast array of design and decide upon one winner.

“You end up with arguments for and against all the nominations but in the end GOV.UK was a clear winner. It’s a vote of confidence to the idea that the government can lead the way with simple and clever design.

“It creates a benchmark for which all international government websites can be judged on.”

The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader said: “I am delighted that the GOV.UK website has won the Design of the Year Award 2013.

“This government is committed to being the most transparent in the world. For the first time, people can find out what’s happening inside government, all in one place, and in a clear and consistent format.

“It is just another example of Britain’s world class design talent standing out on the global stage; in this case helping to enhance the modern relationship between the public and government.”

GOV.UK and the other shortlisted designs are currently on show at the Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum, London until 7 July.

Seven category winners were also recognised at the ceremony – including the renovation and reimagining of a faded 1960’s tower block in Paris, a landmark documentary an fashion icon Diana Vreeland, a reinvention of the wheel in the form of a unique folding wheel which can be applied to bicycles and wheelchairs and a chair constructed using the latest computer technology.

Product Category Winner