| In a Nutshell
“The Directory” is
the working title for a client facing web-based tool that
will enable them to find the right design consultancy for
them. It will cut down the amount of time they spend with
PQQs because they will be able to access the information they
need immediately through the DBA website. The website will
also feature best practice guides and advice for clients illustrating
how they can get the most out of the creative process. We
aim to launch “the Directory” to client in the summer of 2010.
Money
We have raised an
incredible £150,000 from the DBA membership especially
for the Directory Project. This has been achieved through
two routes. £43,000 of contributions between £200
and £500 from over 100 DBA Members (click
here for list), and £107,000 of interest
free loans of between £2000 and £5000 from 24
DBA Members (click
here for list) who have agreed to cashflow the
project over the next couple of years.
This is an extremely
ambitious project for the DBA. The IT investment alone will
allow us to provide our members with far more help and advice
that is relevant to their businesses. The final client-facing
element of the project will allow design buyers to see which
design consultancies might be best for them – at the same
time as promoting best practice methods of buying design services.
We need an additional
£150,000 to really make this project world-class. If
you are in a position to make a contribution or loan please
email your details to Adam
Fennelow so he can give you a call to discuss it further.
We are also making
several approaches to organizations for match funding. These
are looking really positive, but we will always accept more,
so if you have contacts in any funding groups please send
us an email [link].
IT
We signed our IT contract
just before Christmas, which has meant that we have had a
busy start to the year. Our training courses are nearly over
and the development of the database system begins next week.
We will then adapt the basic shell to the needs of the DBA
and our members.
The key to our IT system
is the ability to link it directly to our website enabling
DBA Members to upload images and case-studies to the DBA site
and for us to track which clients use it.
There are many exciting
possibilities stemming from the new database system, outside
the Directory project. Communication between the DBA and our
members will improve, the amount of time we spend on admin
will decrease (allowing more time to be spent helping our
members), and we will be able to research the design industry
in more depth.
For those of you
wondering, we will be using the Integra system from Iris http://not-for-profit.iris.co.uk
DBA Website
We will need the
DBA website redeveloping to build in the additional functionality.
We will issue a tender document for members to consider shortly.
Client Involvement
We have set up a DBA
Client Advisory Group to make sure that everything we do has
been checked by design-buyers to ensure that the service will
be usable in all sectors. The Group is chaired by Raymond
Turner (former Head of Design at BAA and now independent advisor
to numerous international clients) and is made up of representatives
from both large and small business across many sectors. Companies
being represented in the group include BT, Yell, Buro Hapold,
Cisco Systems and Spearmark.
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