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.