Global competition is increasing as a result of trade Iiberalisation, evolving technology and increasing customerdemands for quality products and services, and Design plays an important role in the competitiveness and economies. Consequently, it has become a high priority for governments to encourage businesses to develop and implement new products and services through design. This research project, 'A comparative study of national design policies in the UK and South Korea', focuses on national design policy in the UK and South Korea and in particular on the support of small and medium sized enterprises to improve competitiveness. The aim of this study is to understand national design policy, especially national business support programmes in design. The research (1) identifies the relationship between design, design policy and global competitiveness, (2) compares government policy in the UK and South Korea to support and promote design in industry, (3) compares national lnitiatlves and design support programmes, and (4) recommends models for alternative design policies with particular reference to national business support programmes in design. This research reviews the historical development of design policy, and investigates the relationship between national design policy and industrial development in the UK and South Korea. The study considers the implementation of strategic high level policy at government level through national design bodies: the Design Council (UK) and the Korean Institute of Design Promotion (South Korea). This research then goes on to investigate national business support programmes in design: Designing Demand in the UK and Design Innovation in South Korea. The research findings are compared and contrasted and critically analysed. Finally, recommendations are made for: (i) the development of national design polices, (ii) national business support programmes in design, and (iii) alternative structural models for the development and implementation of the national design policy.