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Many AGDA members and observers will have noticed a recent poll on the www site that asked a series of questions regarding what members would expect from an AGDA accreditation program. This came off the back of discussion within the National Council as to how to progress this long-standing project.

To say that the responses from those who contributed to the poll were polarised would be a gross understatement. Sentiment ranged from individuals stating that accreditation would be a key asset to membership through to many considering that AGDA needed more organisational maturity and depth of service for such a program to carry authority.

During recent evaluation of the proposal at the National Council meeting in Adelaide, the following points were agreed to:

1. Most, if not all, of the benefits to be gained from an accreditation program could be met by separate, simpler and less expensive initiatives.
   
2. With there being such a range of tasks required to drive the program - from initiating structure through to widespread marketing - it was realised that the risk of just one weak aspect in the program jeopardising the remainder was considerable. (In this regard, breaking the objectives down as per point 1 above would appear to be a more prudent approach.)
   
3. The project budget, based on what individuals were prepared to pay for the service, could not be reconciled to have it run out of deficit. And clearly, any program of this kind needs to be self-supporting.
   

In summary, and in light of current efforts by AGDA to reposition itself via an expansion of services and membership scope, it was somewhat reluctantly decided to indefinitely postpone further examination of the project until the resources and industry profile of AGDA are more complete.

For anyone interested in reading the data summary and analysis of the www site poll, conducted by former AGDA General Manager and e-business adviser to National Council, Andrew Lam-Po-Tang, download it here.

• AGDA Accreditation Survey, September 2001.pdf [375 KB]

Many thanks to those who took part in the poll and especially to Andrew Lam-Po-Tang for conducting it on AGDA's behalf.

John Frostell
AGDA National President

"why don't you all join the Australian Institute of Design where you are accredited for the type of work you do and are a more valued member than being a part of this so called graphic design association!"

"Its interesting isnt it - that no one has made any comments on this for over 3 years. The WA committee has just voted (April 2006) not to progress this any further - "put it on the back burner" or more accurately in the "too hard basket". The vote would have been unanimous but for myself. I am seriously looking at joining the DIA who appear to be taking this matter seriously with their Accredited Designer system. Apathy (which is what it is in my humble opinion) will get us nowhere (fast)."

"Hey it's a constant battle taking your work, your business or your national organisation to its next level. It also maybe an international concern as there will always be someone nipping at your heels. Call them cowboys or DTP or even Mr John Citizen. The computer age has created havoc in many areas: is it a production tool or a creative tool?...many questions arise. However by being in business we need to implement quality that allows us to stand out in the design world specifically with our clients. They are the ones who keep coming back...so maintaining a sound base is the key. The best business is existing business and it continues to grow from there! Have faith and trust in your chosen profession!"

"As a hybrid designer/marketer, I believe that form is integral to function, and that function is bottom-line. Sure, I've watched from within as a plethora of DTP 'operators' have diluted our industry, while other design professionals have protected theirs. I've watched as this dilution has affected the understanding of the role of the graphic designer in the minds of our markets, our design peers, the general public, and even ourselves. Don't be naïve; accreditation is a must, but a spoke in the wheel nonetheless. We should also be concerned with creating increased awareness and understanding, and showcasing our skills regarding form as well as function."

"I was browsing through, mainly out of frustration in the career I have chosen. I love anything to do with design. Unfortunately it is a profession most people think they can handle since the arrival of DTP. Because of that, the standard has fallen and the need for accreditation is needed now more than ever. In my place of employment I am continualy competing with the pre press department. We (designers) do not have computers because the PICU feels we will be doing their job. So we (designers) do all the visuals by hand and then send them to pre press to be set. Slowly they will try and edge us out even though they have absolutely no design skills whatsoever! Unfortunately as a designer I have no backup and I know most designers feel the same under these circumstanses. At one point the company thought so little of us they literally plucked two indiviaduals off the street and expected us to teach them in a couple of months what has taken us years to learn. Needless to say this did not work out, but it showed me what they thought of the art dept. By the way this is not a small company. It would be great to see some kind of recognition for what we do and a good start is some kind of accreditation. I am currently thinking of joining the AGDA as this seems to be the way in the right direction."

"We are going to be in deep doo doo if we don't get our act together.

Public perception of graphic design is still little more than decorator and little understood.

We might do well to take a leaf from those who some of us despise so much as those in marketing and publish, promote serious research into the impact of design.

A more active role in business may help and a more can do attitude, as opposed to the frequently heard... yeah maybe!

We are going to suffer further fragmentation as an industry and a resultant less effective voice... an indication of this is the proliferation of associations in this industry... which can lead one to believe it is reaction to the inefficiency of earlier associations.

As a passionate and frustrated business person (designer) who has taken some initiative in this organisation, I fairly well convinced that to survive we need accreditation, putting it off, is only delaying the inevitable. What on earth is implied by industy maturity.

get a grip, we need accreditation to remain a cohesive group of professionals.

Having had 3 other careers, I have seen these same symptoms before."