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. 

Members only

Beyond free pitching: building stronger, smarter client relationships

By DBA x Design Week
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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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

Members only

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

By Design Business Association
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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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

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Free Pitching: 01 The DBA stance

By Design Business Association
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 to view

Free Pitching: 02 Advice for Agencies

By Design Business Association
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

By Design Business Association
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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Members only

Free pitching: 04 Example Response to Requests

By Design Business Association
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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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

Members only

Free Pitching: 05 Industry Points of View

By Design Business Association
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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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

Members only

Draw the line: managing ‘scope creep’

By Joanne Archer, HK Law
Scope creep can turn into a big issue. What's your best defence to combat it?

Financial, Legal

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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

Members only

Official launch of the 2025 What Clients Think Report

By Design Business Association
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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If you’d like to discuss joining the DBA, please email adam@dba.org.uk

Free to view

Deconstructing design effectiveness | DBA webinar

By Design Business Association
What makes design effective? Catch up on this unfiltered look at design that reshaped markets and shifted human behaviour. DBA Chief Executive, Deborah Dawton led the conversation with esteemed judges Olivia Salisbury and Pernilla Johansson who dissected standout projects that delivered change and break down the work that didn’t just meet expectations, it redefined them.

Design effectiveness

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