All about Design

In a rapidly changing and increasingly demanding marketplace, design is a critical source of competitive advantage. Embedded within, and throughout a business, design can impact across the total enterprise transforming its fortunes and tangibly realising its strategic intent. 

From measuring success to sharing excellence and best practice, we work to build universal confidence in design investment, and to enable thriving partnerships between those commissioning and managing design and the agencies delivering it.

Through our work, and with the powerful collective voice of our membership, the DBA is uniquely placed to drive design ever further up the agenda in business and government. 

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Representing Agencies

Championing effective design and supporting design businesses to be more effective is fundamental to everything we do. At our core is a vibrant community of over 350 design agencies and businesses from across the UK.

Membership of the DBA represents a commitment to effective design – to proving commercial impact and value, a belief in quality, of good working practices and of collegiate best practice sharing. Our agency members think about the bigger picture and know that they’re stronger together.

Through programmes, services and activities, The DBA trains, educates, recognises and celebrates the power of effective design and professional practices in small and large businesses.

Representing agenciesDBA members range in size from one-man bands to SME’s and large agencies. From branding, retail, industrial and product design, to digital design and more between, we support the development and influence of our membership and the wider UK design industry.

Our agency members recognise and are united in the benefits of:

  • Connecting with the UK design community and the power and influence behind their united voice
  • Quality and professional practice
  • Effective design and proving commercial value

“We have been enthusiastic supporters of the DBA since its inception in 1986, and have consistently seen value in, and benefited from, its industry voice and the interaction it facilitates with our design industry peers.” Craig Wightman, Design Director, Kinneir Dufort.

 

“If you’re serious about the business of design, the DBA is an essential hygiene factor. When setting up Good, we prioritised DBA membership over desks.” Keith Forbes, Founding Partner, Good.

A Small Giants approach

DBA members look beyond the standard definition of success to focus on greatness in bigger areas than financial and geographical growth. Instead, choosing to focus on being great at what they do, creating a great place to work, giving clients a great service, having a great relationship with suppliers, making great contributions to the communities they live and work in.

At the DBA, we champion greatness in all the small businesses that think big. Our focus is to shine a light on each of the unique characteristics that drive you; you think differently, you work differently, you aspire differently. This approach is called Small Giants and we support our members to practise it, through a specialised, high-level service offering. Read more about Small Giants here.

From digital design to product, retail, industrial design and more in between, our members represent the best of UK design, practising and promoting the case for effective design for local and international clients.

“When I look at the DBA’s membership, I see businesses defined by their determination to be, not just good, but to be great at what they do. Driven by a genuine desire to the best they can be at what they do, to create a stimulating place for their staff to work, to provide great client servicing, to make a wider positive impact beyond simply their own financial gains. It’s what gives this sector its unique mojo. And it’s what makes the UK design industry so special.” Deborah Dawton, Chief Executive, Design Business Association

Find your closest DBA Member – to either connect with your peers, or discuss of possible project. Members cover all design disciplines, range from micro-businesses to large multinational networked agencies and are located across the country.

We support the development and growth of you, your team, your business and brand; we facilitate enlightening interactions with your peers and communicate the value of your work. Isn’t it time you joined us?

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