DBA Member Forum | June Summary
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
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Here’s a short summary of what we covered, prepared under Chatham House Rule — we explored much more during the session.
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
What is the EU AI Act?
The transparency rules of the EU AI Act will come into effect in August 2026. HK Law's Alexandra Clapp explains the AI Act, the transparency obligations and what these mean for your business.
The era of the Client Partner has begun
Client service helps generate serious returns and it's time to recognise its value. The Client Partner era has begun.
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
Agency marketing is changing: here’s what’s working
Don’t let your marketing sit on the ‘too difficult’ pile – the nature of ‘sustainable marketing’ has shifted in recent years and this is good news for design agencies.
In Focus: Staff cost to fee income ratio
DBA Expert Mike Almandras explores a key metric you should be looking at to set your design business up to be profitable.
New Designers 2026
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
DBA Member Forum | May Summary
At our May Member Forum, we were joined by Diageo's Jeremy Lindley, Phoenix Studio's Jonny Westcar, Gunpowder Consulting's Lucy Mann, and Else's Warren Hutchinson, as we explored how AI is reshaping DBA Member businesses.
Why design businesses can no longer afford to run their channels in isolation
In today’s market, creative and design-led businesses face an increasingly complex challenge: how to stand out, stay relevant, and grow in an environment where attention is scarce and competition is relentless. TDC PR's Tim Duncan outlines a holistic approach to standing out.
Podge Beach Club Summer Party
Podge & the DBA are joining forces this Summer to bring you an evening of conversation, creativity and cocktails on Tuesday 9 June, 5.30pm til late, at the Podge Beach Club Summer Party at Century Club in Soho, London.
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The Discover! Creative Careers programme is back, and this time for a whole month in 2025. This means more time to get involved, more creative career encounters for young people, and more impact.
If you’re an employer in the design sector, please consider spending some time this November showing 11–18-year-olds what a career in design looks like through in-school, workplace or online activities.
Head over to Discover’s website where you can explore their industry toolkit, getting started guide and encouraging case studies on what industry employers have done in previous years. Let’s inspire the future workforce for the sector – register your interest today. You can also attend an online information session on 3 September at 12.30-1.15pm.
“Where would you be if you weren’t working in design? What led you to your career? If you are passionate about design, the richness it brings to your life and the wider world, I’d really encourage you to support ‘Discover! Creative Careers Month’ this November. There are so many ways you can get involved, from opening-up your studio for a day, to a one-hour online or in-school talk. Simply share your enthusiasm for design – what it’s like to work in our fantastic sector – and you could inspire a young person on a path they’d never even considered before. Help us make a difference attracting and diversifying the next generation of design talent.”
Deborah Dawton, CEO, DBA
What is Discover! Creative Careers?
Discover! Creative Careers (DCC) is an industry-led initiative designed to provide young people from England with encounters and experiences of the Creative Industries through in- school, workplace and online opportunities. For the 2025 programme, Discover is funded to support and engage with schools and young people across 101 priority areas in England, identified as those facing the greatest disadvantage, but the online programme is open to all.
The DCC programme culminates in an annual flagship event that has this year been extended to a whole month, giving industry and schools greater opportunities to forge connections and offer more 11–18-year-olds vital encounters with creative industry careers. This is part of the wider expansion across the programme which aims to reach 100,000 young people. Discover! Creative Careers Month takes place in November 2025 and will remain free for schools and young people to access, with registration for both schools and industry employers open now.
Funded by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Discover! is part of Government’s pledge to build a highly-skilled, productive and inclusive workforce for the future, outlined in the Creative Industries Sector Plan.
Wondering where to start?
Last year, DBA member BAGGI hosted a fun and interactive brand workshop for A-level students at Strode’s College in Surrey. “We wanted to put something back locally and inspire young people to consider a career in design,” says the brand consultancy’s founder Mark Baxter. Here’s how BAGGI helped young people Discover Creative Careers.
Inspire the future design industry workforce by getting involved in Discover! Creative Careers Month 2025 throughout November, an opportunity for young people to gain insight into real job roles and pathways from employers through online and in-person events. Access the industry toolkit and register your interest to receive news >
DBA Member Forum | June Summary
At our latest DBA Member Forum, we explored navigating uncertainty and making confident decisions in a shifting economic and political landscape.
What is the EU AI Act?
The transparency rules of the EU AI Act will come into effect in August 2026. HK Law's Alexandra Clapp explains the AI Act, the transparency obligations and what these mean for your business.
The era of the Client Partner has begun
Client service helps generate serious returns and it's time to recognise its value. The Client Partner era has begun.
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
Agency marketing is changing: here’s what’s working
Don’t let your marketing sit on the ‘too difficult’ pile – the nature of ‘sustainable marketing’ has shifted in recent years and this is good news for design agencies.
In Focus: Staff cost to fee income ratio
DBA Expert Mike Almandras explores a key metric you should be looking at to set your design business up to be profitable.
New Designers 2026
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
DBA Member Forum | May Summary
At our May Member Forum, we were joined by Diageo's Jeremy Lindley, Phoenix Studio's Jonny Westcar, Gunpowder Consulting's Lucy Mann, and Else's Warren Hutchinson, as we explored how AI is reshaping DBA Member businesses.
Why design businesses can no longer afford to run their channels in isolation
In today’s market, creative and design-led businesses face an increasingly complex challenge: how to stand out, stay relevant, and grow in an environment where attention is scarce and competition is relentless. TDC PR's Tim Duncan outlines a holistic approach to standing out.
Podge Beach Club Summer Party
Podge & the DBA are joining forces this Summer to bring you an evening of conversation, creativity and cocktails on Tuesday 9 June, 5.30pm til late, at the Podge Beach Club Summer Party at Century Club in Soho, London.