LONDON, U.K.—While world financial markets nosedive and our own parliamentarians continue to bicker, some politicians around the globe are actually trying to make progress.

An article posted on DesignWeek.co.uk, a weekly British design industry publication, describes a support package announced by London mayor Boris Johnson that will boost design.

According to the news report, the London Development Agency has proposed a £23 million package to help small- and medium-sized businesses through the tough economic climate by encouraging them to make better use of design.

“One of the initiatives currently backed by the LDA is the Design Council’s Designing Demand programme, which shows small businesses how to use design to become more profitable,” reports Design Week. To read the entire article, go to: www.designweek.co.uk