Designers are no different to other professionals in that we have a professional industry association. But what makes us different is our reasons for belonging: AGDA Membership has not been a requirement of professional practice nor based on an accreditation process as in the case of the CPA or the AMA.

Membership of the Australian Graphic Design Association provides designers with a vehicle to communicate with local or national designers, and a network for collaboration. As most Australian designers work as individuals or in small studios, it is easy to feel alone and isolated. AGDA provides designers with a sense of cultural belonging, a way to feel part of the industry and AGDA's nation wide membership of 1800.

Designers around the globe are no different in their desire to communicate, collaborate and find a culture with which to identify. Here are profiles of other international design associations and organisations. Considering AGDA's youth and volunteer structure we compare very well to our peers.

The Design Business Association (DBA)

The Design Business Association is a trade association run for its members to promote, support and represent the business of design to government, industry and commerce world wide. With 300 members it is the largest design trade association in the world. It's members run DBA Task Groups which concentrate on specific areas of DBA business such as the Design Effectiveness Awards, export markets, IT issues, training and design awareness.

The DBA Design Effectiveness Awards are run in association with Marketing Week and highlight design's value and fundamental importance to business excellence. Judged by leading business people, entry to the awards involves submitting a summary of the project and a detailed case study proving its effectiveness.

mission: to promote the effective use of design in business, to encourage high standards of business and professional practice and to provide a range of useful services to member consultancies.

founded: 1986

based: in England

management: by a Board of 14 Directors, including a Chairman and Chief Executive.

programs:
Design Effectiveness Awards, established in 1989, measure design in terms of its commercial effectiveness, rewarding designs that can prove their success in meeting specific business objectives.

The DBA Directory, sent to over 1,300 client companies

DBA Design Referral Service, placing 2 million pounds of new business with members in the first year

a training program which offers courses, seminars and briefings developed for design consultancies on important design business issues, for both members and non-members

publishing a range of titles including Professional Practice in Design Consultancy

designjobs.com, advertising job vacancies.

membership: to be eligible for DBA membership a company must earn 50% of its income from design, have been trading for more than a year and agree to abide by the DBA Code of Conduct. Three client references are also required. Subscriptions are based on a sliding scale depending on number of employees, starting at 469 pounds for a sole trader.

benefits: includes free entry in The DBA Directory, free page on the DBA website, free copy of the annual rates and salary survey, inclusion in the DBA Design Referral Service, free half hour legal advice on any number of subjects, and reduced rates at events and seminars.

website: http://www.dba.org.uk

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

With a membership of 12,000, the AIGA is the professional association for Graphic Arts in America. Like AGDA, the AIGA is a non-profit organisation with 40 local chapters running independently of the national chapter. AIGA'S National Design Centre is based in New York and has a staff of seven servicing the membership, sponsors and local chapters. The AIGA Strathmore Gallery mounts a series of design exhibitions each year.

mission: The mission of the Institute is to advance excellence in Graphic Design as a discipline, profession and cultural force.

founded: 1914

based: in USA

management: a national Board of 16 Directors. Current National President is Michael Beirut, a Pentagram partner. Each local chapter has its own board.

programs:

the AIGA program include two national conferences, the National Design Conference and the National Business Conference
national design competitions
travelling design shows
exhibitions at the AIGA Strathmore Gallery
publication of the annual Graphic Design USA.

membership: categories include: Student, Associate, Professional and Group. Professional membership is US$255 per year.

benefits: membership benefits include free or discounted AIGA publications, newsletters and journals, discounted event tickets, national conferences, and discounts on services ranging from Fed Ex couriers to long distance phone calls.

website: http://www.aiga.org

The Design Council

Founded over fifty years ago, the Design Council strives to promote the effective use of design -- and design thinking -- in business, in education and in government. The Council runs as an autonomous, non-profit public body funded through a grant from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Council works with a range of local and national business organisations, government departments and agencies and educational organisations. A staff of forty, working in six teams, is based in their London office.

mission: to inspire the best use of design by the UK, in the world context, to improve prosperity and well-being.

founded: 1944

based: in England

management: Chief Executive Andrew Summers represents the Design Council nationally and internationally.

programs: by working with partner organisations the Design Council spreads its message through:

Design in the Business Excellence Model, working with the British Quality Foundation to educate the BQF's 1,700 members on where design activity resides in the Business Excellence Model

establishing the Design Business Excellence website, www.designbusinessexcellence.org.uk, in collaboration with
the BQF

Design in Business Week

Design in Education Week

Millennium Products project, which aims to identify, encourage and promote highly innovative UK products and services

events with high profile speakers like Prime Minister Tony Blair who launched Millennium Products

Establishing Business Links where Design Counsellors work with small and medium businesses to become more competitive using tools such as Design Atlas

coverage in the media through specially commissioned TV programs as well as general coverage of the Council's activities

publications such policy proposals and specially commissioned reports

Design Decisions, a program established in 1997 aimed at school children to encourage using a design approach to problem solving and communication.

website: http://www.design-council.org.uk

British Design & Art Direction (D&AD)

The British Design and Art Direction is a professional association and charity representing the UK's thriving design and advertising communities.

Supported by both individuals and companies the D&AD has a membership of over 1,600 leading professionals, students and associates.

mission: to set creative standards, educate and inspire the next creative generation, and promote the importance of good design and advertising to the business arena.

founded: 1962

based: in England

management: the 10 member D&AD Executive serve three year terms with elections held each year to replace outgoing members. The president is then elected from this Executive, Richard Seymour is the current President.

programs:

The D&Ad Awards, known as the Yellow Pencils, have been running for almost 40 years. The 1999 Awards saw 17,107 entries from around the world awarded 90 nominations, one gold and 47 silvers.

each year the D&AD invests 1.3 million pounds running a range of programs that support colleges and train young creatives including the Student Awards, and College Membership Scheme which provides a communication channel with the industry's top creatives

a series of lectures by creatives from around the world

publications such as the Awards Annual, books, CD-Roms and Ampersand, the D&AD's newsletter.

membership: categories include: Full, Associate and International. Full membership is reserved for those whose work has appeared in the D&AD Awards Annual (in 1999 that was 413), and costs 162 pounds per year.

benefits: membership benefits include free copies of the D&AD Awards Annual and showreel, Ampersand newsletter, discounts of lectures, discounts on D&AD publications.

website: http://www.dandad.org