Members’ Area

From receiving expert help and guidance to benchmarking your business’ performance, the Members’ Area is a gateway to resources, services and support specifically developed for those working in the field of design.

Some sections are exclusively accessible to DBA members, connecting you to the extensive range of benefits your membership provides.

DBA membership extends to everyone working within your business – all members of your team can register for their own password – ensuring the whole team benefits.

Main Content

Resources

Essential guidance, templates, insight and tools to support you on all aspects of the business of design. From contracts to client opinion, legal updates to exporting support, our resources give you instant access to expert advice and tools to help solve a wide range of business challenges.

If you can’t find the information you’re after please email membership@dba.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 3855 4126 and we’ll look to source or signpost you to guidance to match your needs. 

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Creating an impactful Senior Leadership Team


Embedding an impactful Senior Leadership Team is the most significant project a founder can do to drive current, and future, value from their business and is a critical aspect of building to exit. But perhaps this scenario rings true for you? 

HR, Strategy development


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Members only

Beyond free pitching: building stronger, smarter client relationships


Catch up on this DBA x Design Week webinar that looks at the root causes of free pitching and what you can do to stop it.

Financial, New business & client relations, Strategy development


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Members only

US Tariffs – what’s the impact? | DBA webinar


What are the implications of US tariffs for you and your design agency? Catch up on this clear-cut, unbiased explainer that will leave you better informed and with an understanding of the current situation and implications for your business.

International trade


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Free Pitching: 01 The DBA stance


The DBA stance is clear – we recommend agencies do not free pitch. It devalues what you are selling and does not produce the best solution for the client.

Advice for clients, Financial, New business & client relations


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Free Pitching: 02 Advice for Agencies


Free pitching is an unsustainable business model for design agencies – a practice that has no place in our industry – and the DBA can support you in saying no.

Financial, New business & client relations


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Free Pitching: 03 Advice for Design Buyers


Is the method you’re using to choose your agency going to deliver the maximum return on your design investment?

Advice for clients


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Free pitching: 04 Example Response to Requests


How do you tackle client requests to free pitch? DBA members can adapt and use this example response to requests.

Financial, New business & client relations


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Free Pitching: 05 Industry Points of View


How do other businesses take a stance? Why doesn't free pitching pay? What are the alternatives? Access industry points of views.

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Draw the line: managing ‘scope creep’


Scope creep can turn into a big issue. What's your best defence to combat it?

Financial, Legal


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Members only

Official launch of the 2025 What Clients Think Report


Up to the Light’s ‘What Clients Think’ report in association with the DBA is the definitive annual snapshot into the complexity of client/agency relationships. Catch up with author of the report, Director of Up to the Light and DBA Expert, Jonathan Kirk, in conversation with Adam Fennelow, Membership Director at the DBA, as they explore the report’s unparalleled insights directly from 680 clients.

Advice for clients, Business skills, New business & client relations


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