DBA members vote to bring clients into membership and onto Board

Recognising the expanding scope and strength of the UK industry, she spoke of a future that required a new approach that would engage both the creators and commissioners of design. In recognition of this need, the DBA, as the bridge between design and business, is changing its structure to include commissioners and managers of design as full members.



Haynes announced the seven founding business members as Diageo, Buro Happold, HSBC Private Banking, Nestle, GSK, Arup and Virgin Atlantic – all companies who recognise the value of good design and who wish to move the agenda and continue to innovate.



Of these businesses Haynes says, “They have joined us, not just because they have design parts to their companies, but because they recognise the value of design, because they want to be part of our industry, they want to learn from us and they want to share with us”.



The client membership initiative has grown out of the client advisory group for the DBA’s directory, an online database of DBA-registered design groups that launched last year.



The inclusion of clients within the membership will enable greater opportunity for shared dialogue and productive debate between design and business, create greater understanding of the commercial value of design and promote high standards of practice amongst all members. Client representation on the Board will help to drive this new focus.



DBA membership has grown 25% in the last 3 years and now stands at over 400 design agencies, with a number of in-house design teams an existing element of the membership. However, for the first time in its history, the DBA is changing from being an organisation for the people who are in the practice of design, to include people who are involved in the purchase, commissioning, and management of design.



In addition to the announcement of client membership at the AGM, DBA members also voted new directors to the Board and re-elected existing members. Joining the Board:



Colin Burns, Elmwood



Erika Clegg, Spring



Simon Farrell, Tayburn



Steve Gibbons, Dew Gibbons



Oliver King, Engine



Re-elected:



Jonathan Ford, Pearlfisher



Graham Hales, Interbrand



Will Rowe, Rufus Leonard



Jim Thompson, 20/20