off with her head?

'Minerva' by Auguste Rodin, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
(I hope they don't mind)

I've thought long and hard about whether it was correct to mention this topic on this blog, and I've hesitated many a time before doing so. But I am doing so, because in all seriousness I want to know what my fellow designers feel about this: is there any longer any real point to the Chartered Society of Designers?

I ask because every January I have an invoice drop on my doormat for my membership subscription. And January's always a tight cash-flow month, so it always gets put to the bottom of the pile. And every year for the past few years I've thought to myself 'is this really worth it'? And there's always something that's made me stump up in the past - and those are the words 'member since 1973'.

Don't get me wrong on this: I've been proud to be a member, and I've made many good friends and attended career-changing courses through being a member. And, in the past, I've rolled my sleeves up and got involved, both at the regional and national level. Because, as so often in life, what you get out is commensurate with what you put in.

But, I don't know, for the last few years that invoice and the letter and telephone call to chase it will be the only times I ever hear from them.

And I simply don't feel connected any more. Does it do anything for me as a designer? Is it relevant to what I do to earn my living day by day? Does it provide a forum where I can exchange thoughts and ideas with fellow designers? (Certainly not on the basis of the members' forum on their web site, where the last posting was made in September 2005.)

It used to do all those things. Now, though, I'm not so sure.

I thought I'd already opted to leave simply by not paying my membership fee for this year. But it seems that I have to tender my resignation in writing.

What do you think, fellow designers? Are you a member (or indeed a fellow)?

Should I stay or should I go?

UPDATE: Five months later I resigned, as explained just here.

Comments

[richard]

It seems to me that you've answered your own question: you're not getting anything out of it. And where are they anyway? I know I'm out on a limb here in Belfast but I never hear about the CSD any more. I don't hear them campaigning on our behalf, I don't see them in the design press. I get a really interesting and regular eBulletin from the Design Council. No membership required.

And, in my experience, the only people who ask you if you're a member are other designers.

And their logo looks like the end of my "old chap".

(Sorry about that last bit).

[davidthedesigner]

That gives a whole new meaning to the expression 'members only', Richard.

[Ben]

I was gonna write about this.

There is no point to CSD at all.

All these bodies, CSD, D&AD, Design Council, DBA should merge to form one useful, coherent, aspirational organisation.

[Josh]

Well, if you haven't payed your membership fee, and yet it still appears that you are a member, surely you haven't anything to lose?

[Frank Peters FCSD]

Dear davidthedesigner, here are just a few of the reasons why the majority of CSD members pay their subscriptions. Please feel free to post comments on the forum which can be accessed by all current members.

Focus Groups: London, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow

- Links to Minerva Speaks: http://www.csd.org.uk/newsletter/minerva_speaks_feb08.jsp http://www.csd.org.uk/newsletter/minerva_speaks_apr08.jsp

- WIPO: http://www.csd.org.uk/news/news_058.jsp

- Regular email bulletins

- Regular Job alerts

- Members Speak: it is only with the assistance of members that this community grows.

- Benefits:

The major and most important benefit of membership is professional recognition identified by the use of the affix MCSD after your name. This signals to clients that you operate as a professional designer and they are able to see what this comprises by checking the CSD website or contacting the Society.

Being a member of a professional body is not a means of achieving business - it is a means of achieving recognition.

That is the sole over-riding benefit of membership above all else. It is like saying:

“I am a doctor, architect, lawyer, etc.'"

In addition to this, members also receive:

- Training: not region specific

The Society provides a programme of training that may be taken as individual modules or as a whole leading to a diploma in design Business Management.

Members receive a substantial discount.

It is worth remembering that membership of CSD carries an obligation to continuous professional development.

- CSD Directory: not region specific

Members have their own online portfolio which contains details of their practice and carries up to 12 case studies, plus links to your own website and contact details.

This directory is available to all members.

- Designer Select: not region specific

Your online portfolio on our client matching service, which can be viewed on the CSD website.

- Events:

Discounts to national and regional events.

- Networking:

Via our online regional network and members e-forum

Also, if there is a regional group, physical networking.

Obviously - it is only with the assistance of members in the region that we are able to set-up and sustain regional activities - the members are the Society.

- Minerva Speaks: not regional specific

Bi-monthly e-communication newsletter for members.

- Professional advice: not region specific

IP

Insurance

Legal

Finance recovery

- Email broadcasts: not region specific

On relevant issues to members disciplines or regions

- Website: not region specific

Members website - all of the benefits of membership are listed on this site if you log in.

- Exhibiting: not region specific

Opportunities to exhibit work at various events.

- Assessing:

Opportunity to assess and judge in our applications and various competitions.

- One-2-one advice: not region specific

To assist with any problem areas where staff resources are able and/or to refer to specialist advice.

[davidthedesigner]

Thanks for your response, Frank - and I'm pleased to see that CSD is alert enough to have picked this up in the blogosphere.

As I said, I thought long and hard before posting this subject, and what I've written wasn't intended as an attack upon CSD. Nor was I wanting to provoke an argument: a discussion, yes, but not an argument.

I've been proud to be a member of CSD for 35 years, but the reality is that we're not like doctors, architects and lawyers. Because, unlike those professions, absolutely anyone can call themselves a designer: in that respect, we're no different than hairdressers, chefs or estate agents. More fool us, perhaps. And that was why I joined CSD (or SIAD as it then was) all those years ago: to help promote the cause of design as a properly 'professional' way to earn one's living.

But, just like then, there remain very many designers (including very many good designers) who are perfectly happy to practice without needing to belong to this professional body. And, just like then, clients don't ask, or care, what letters we've got after our name. Perhaps they should, but they don't.

And do please take on board my observation that not one member has posted to the members' discussion forum since September 2005. No matter what the intention, that simply isn't a resource (at least as presented) which is of value to members - if it was, they'd be using it.

Because the real discussions about design are happening out here in the big, wide world - in the blogosphere and beyond. And if CSD is to survive and flourish (beyond existing to be itself) it needs to be out here promoting the cause of design with every fibre of its being. Which, to be perfectly blunt, means more than an extensive list of membership 'benefits'.

Take it as criticism if you will: but as constructive criticism, please, as intended.

[Frank Peters FCSD]

Dear David, I am always happy to have a discussion - something which appears to have been denied the design profession for the past few years as it has gradually been taken over by the amateur and officialdom. I am happy with 'argument' in the true sense of the meaning as this is much more robust than discussion and I do think designers need to be more forceful in putting their views.

I have heard the argument put so many times that design is different to law, medicine, architecture etc because anyone can practice design. Well let's leave out architecture as that is now 'semi' deregulated - but yes you do need to be 'licensed' in some way to practice law and medicine - and I guess not too many will argue with that.

However, the other professions are under pressure to deregulate and elements of their practice are gradually being undertaken at different levels without the previous levels of qualification required - ie, legal secretaries for conveyancing, GPs doing minor surgery - even kids now have classroom assistants (parents) replacing teachers.

Contrast this shift in the professions to the licensing of other vocational occupations - either directly or via qualifications such as hairdressers and beauticians. Financial services can rely on FSA examinations, estate agents have to be licensed, even landlords now have to pay for a government license.

The authority to practice whatever is being removed from the professional bodies and licenses are being granted by government - via various schemes.

The problem for design is that it has for far too long sat in middle relying on the portfolio as the right to practice. Well the world has changed and in the future - indeed now - those practicing design will not necesarily come from a design training.

Whilst designers may still be aspiring to the other professions - the tide is changing. The big difference between them is fundamental to the strength of a profession. Lawyers and doctors after graduating sign up to the concept of 'we' - they qualify to join their profession - for designers more often than not the concept is 'me' - more than likely due to the individual nature of the practice of design - again a notion that is due to change.

To be professional rquires some commitment also to best practice - how many designers do any CPD? - even my plumber has to do 35 hours a week - and I guess many designers will envy what he charges. Will designers sign up to this?

I really don't think that it is a case of 'more fool us' - although I do think we have lost some key opportunities along the way. There have been times when the designer was needed - the 1820s to combat cheap Prussian and French imports, 1851 to prove that Britain was great, after World War I to design 'homes fit for heroes', after World War II to help show 'Britain can make it', the 1980s when the word 'designer' had a currency with the public and more recently with the government and RDAs asking 'creativity' and 'design' to step into the vacumm left by manufacturing industry.

On each occasion we, as a collective profession, should have demanded something in return - a status for designers - instead our services were just used and we reverted to working for a pitance - often for free to prove our worth.

That is not to say that no gains were made, in the 1940s the Council for Industrial Design was set up and the government accepted that the Society should take on the national registry of designers and we began assessing members to promote a body of professionals. But as you say - clients still do not really care that much.

But why not - the Council for Industrial Design was set up to promote design to British industry. Now as the Design Council - it has been working for 60 years with a budget from public funds that the Society and many other bodies can only drool over - some £6m per year.

So if your view that clients don't care about using professional design services (ie displaying the affix of a professional body like in architecture)- and I suspect most designers will agree with you - then surely we must question those who are charged with its promotion. As for the Society promoting design - this is not its remit - it is charged under its Royal Charter to promote professional practice and monitor the design profession.

I passionately believe that design can create not only economic wealth but also social wealth - but it can only do this if those who commission design are aware of what professional design can deliver.

I also passionately believe that it is the democratic right of a body of practitioners to establish professional standards that may then be agreed and accepted by a government in order to ensure public protection.

If designers are not prepared to act together under the umbrella of their professional body - then I fear ( and with some grounds )they will soon have a similar licensing regime as do landlords and estate agents and imposed by government. This will either be with a view to protecting a user group or generating revenue - it is difficult to see where the designer will receive the benefit - yet again.

I certainly agree with being out there fighting with every fibre - but the fact is that this is a Society made up of members and finaced by their subscriptions - and their subscriptions alone - no public money at all (a mere 8% of the budget given to the Design Council - but with which we must support 3,000 members, encourage 60,000 design students to start to practice professionaly and help 2,000 courses to inform them of the professional body).

So every fibre means every member - and it means maintaining every member who feels their profession deserves more. That is why I joined after leaving polytechnic in 75 because I cannot see anyone else being interested in my welfare as a designer other than the professional body.

The extensive list (and I am pleased to hear that a designer considers it extensive) is the means to attract those fibres and keep them on board - we can only achieve success with a critical mass - we must maintain integrity and remain independent of government whilst engaging in the support of the profession but not at our expense or sacrifice.

You are correct that discussion takes place elsewhere - in fact it should take place everywhere - but for reasons that must be the subject of other blogs there is a stiffling of discussion and I believe a very concerted effort to ensure that designers do not maintain their professional body - as with others.

I do not take what you have said as criticism - you have raised some serious and important issues that need addressing - and I have tried to do that - honestly and passionately and in my role as CE of CSD and in an open blog.

If designers want to change the sector for their benefit rather than the benefit of others with vested interests - then please join CSD, if you are a member please continue your support (especially paying your fees) - but more importantly get involved - open up discussion - promote the use of the professional affix - question why the UK does not invest in design after spending so much promoting it - ask why the contribution of design to GDP is dropping - question government interference in the sector - preserve the creative and individual nature of what we do - examine design education standards - insist on professional standards from all those practicing. Give those entering the profession a reason to believe in a profesion - not a confused picture that turns them off. Even if the profession is not what you wanted it to be by now - give the next generation of designers a chance before it is taken off them.

Don't allow our profession to be consumed into a collection of trade bodies and regional design initiatives - however interesting their PR and promotion by others may seem.

Hope the amount doesn't block the blog - regards Frank

ps - someone made a post about the Minerva logo so at least it sparked off use of the forum - so thanks - for the record the Minerva logo was originally designed by Milner Gray and the current design is by Brian Webb dating back to the 1980s - the Society is grateful to both of them for their work which was modelled on the Roman Goddess of Wisdom and nothing to do with Dick !

[Dan]

The cost of CSD training is prohibitive.

A situation that will force me out of my CSD membership that took allot of effort and expenditure to achieve. I value my membership very highly indeed but I cannot afford to obtain the required points to see me into my second year.

Activity within my business will qualify for a low CSD score, the big CSD points require substantial financial outlay, and in this economic climate is just not viable.

I feel the point scoring system works against those designers who are self-employed.

[Dan]

I've been a fellow for one year and I am disappointed. The CSD did not meet my expectations. It almost feels like a cash cow, inadvertently preying on designers who seek accreditation for their talent and capability.

[Dan]

I wish they did, but clients do not recognise or care for the suffix

[Charles De-Richelieu]

My Partner recently applied to join CSD and was not accepted. there was no reason given, just a "sorry not this time"
She was "Assesed" by 2 very old men who had absolutely no idea about Computer design programs and seemed more interested in whether she could use a "Pencil"
She is an accomplished designer with a portfolio of very expensive or prominent work and many letters of commendation from clients etc. She also has a substantial wad of qualifications (although not BA)
I encouraged her to apply after reading the requirements and realising she was more than adequately able to fulfil them however; it seems one can be "Assessed" by people who have little or in her case NO knowledge whatsoever of 20/ 21st century means of designing. I would seriously question any proposition that sought to validate the notion that "Anything" (other than cornflake boxes)gets designed by a person with a pencil these days. Just about everything is designed on a computer using very advanced software. Quite frankly the CSD is simply an elitist nonsense with absolutely no relevance to "Doers" This may sound like sour grapes, and it is! The general feeling during the "Assessment" was one of disbelief that she could be a "Designer" if she didn't have any pencil and paper sketches to show them.
And for the record, the letter sent with the refusal was extremely unprofessional as it gave no reason. It would be at the very least "Polite" to explain to someone who paid the fee and took a day out of a busy working life to travel to London the reason why they were not considered suitable.
PS. the society says it has over 3 thousand members accross the globe. "That is actually a very small number by any standards and smacks of severe elitism.

[Ex CSD member]

Richard I feel sorry for your wife if that's what your cock looks like! If I were you I'd stick to writing about frogs or whatever it is you do.