EU referendum: David Chipperfield, Ron Arad, Richard Rogers, David Adjaye and Thomas Heatherwick are among the architects and designers that have signed a letter backing the Remain campaign for the UK's EU referendum.

The letter says that Britain's "global creative success would be severely weakened" if it was to leave the EU.

David Chipperfield, Amanda Levete, Richard Rogers and David Adjaye are among the architects to have signed, declaring their opposition to Britain's potential exit – or Brexit – from the European Union.

Designers Ron Arad, John Pawson, Ilse Crawford, and Thomas Heatherwick have also added their names to the letter, published in yesterday's Telegraph newspaper.

A total of 282 leading creative figures – including architects, designers, artists, musicians and actors – added their names to the letter, which describes the impending referendum as the "biggest democratic decision of our time".

It says that without EU funding and cross-border collaboration, many key projects wouldn't have happened.

German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, who recently designed a set of posters to encourage UK residents to vote to stay in the European Union, is among the signatories, as well as artists Tracey Emin and Anish Kapoor.

The British government is holding a referendum on 23 June to decide whether to leave the European Union.

Cross-party group Britain Stronger in Europe is spearheading the official Remain campaign, a position which is also supported by the UK government through online, TV and print media adverts.

Former London mayor Boris Johnson leads the Vote Leave campaign, which has put him on the same side of the debate as Nigel Farage, head of the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP).

Although his name doesn't appear on the list, British designer Tom Dixon has also weighed in on the debate, stating that the EU was an important market for the UK's architects and designers and a potential Brexit could damage London's status in the design industry.

"It might mean that London becomes much more insular and stops being the international platform that it has become, which is really exciting for design," said Dixon of the possible outcome if the UK votes to leave the EU.