Design Education & Scholarship
Australian Indigenous Design Charter
The Australian Indigenous Design Charter aims to help facilitate accurate and respectful representation of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in design and associated media. The role of the Charter is to assist design practitioners, both Indigenous and non-indigenous.
ACUADS: Australian Council of University Art & Design Schools
ACUADS represents over thirty Australian University and TAFE art and design faculties, schools and departments. The Council undertakes leadership, advocacy, policy development, research and community service for the sector. ACUADS also hosts an active conference and seminar program.
AIGA Teaching Resource (USA)
This DEC initiative, created and designed by Annabelle Gould (Associate Professor, University of Washington), is a peer-populated online platform where design educators can share assignments, outcomes, teaching materials and project reflections. The DEC encourages all design educators to contribute case studies to this important resource.
The Council for Higher Education in Art & Design (UK)
An association of educational institutions with degree or postgraduate provision in art and design. Its mission is to contribute to the development of the A&D community, its standing and stature as well as its engagement with the outside world.
Cumulus: International Association of Universities of Art, Design and Media
Cumulus is the only global association to serve art and design education and research. It is a forum for partnership and transfer of knowledge and best practices. Cumulus consists currently of 299 members from 56 countries.
Decolonising Design Group
Decolonising Design is an editorial platform which seeks to change current design practice as summarised in their Editorial: “Our objective—as design scholars and practitioners—is to transform the very terms of present day design studies and research. Designers can put to task their skills, techniques, and mentalities to designing futures aimed at advancing ecological, social, and technological conditions where multiple worlds and knowledges, involving both humans and nonhumans, can flourish in mutually enhancing ways.”
DRS: Design Research Society
The Design Research Society (DRS) is a learned society committed to promoting and developing design research. It is the longest established, multi-disciplinary worldwide society for the design research community. The purpose of the DRS, as embodied in its first statement of rules, was to promote ‘the study of and research into the process of designing in all its many fields’.
The Group for Learning in Art & Design (UK)
The Group for Learning in Art and Design (GLAD) was established in 1990. It is a non-affiliated group of academics advocating Art, Design and Media from across higher education institutions plus colleagues from the specialist further education sector.
ISTD Student Assessment Scheme
The ISTD Student Assessment Scheme is run annually and allows students to respond to a number of briefs outlined by the International Society of Typographic Designers. Crucially assessors look at student’s entire process from research to conception and design, not just the final outcome.
The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD)
A professional association and an independent trade union. A national authority concerned with art, craft and design across all phases of education in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom Arts and Design Institutions Association (ukadia)
A group of specialist arts and design institutions from across the UK’s higher and further education sectors. Aims promote, nationally and internationally, the key contributions of specialist colleges to the UK’s world-renowned reputation in visual arts, performance and the creative and cultural industries. Also to provide a network to widen participation in Higher Education and encourage mobility into professions serving the creative and cultural industries.
Professional Associations
AGDA: Australian Graphic Design Association
AGDA is the peak national organisation representing the Australian communication design industry. With more than 3,000 members distributed throughout the creative, visual communications, applied design and technology sectors, it is dedicated to advancing the profession through an interrelated program of state, national and international activities in education, advocacy and professional development.
AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts)
The profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization for design—with 70 chapters and more than 25,000 members— they aim to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force.
Chartered Society of Designers (UK)
World wide chartered membership organisation and charity, dedicated to furthering design practices. Information on membership, events, training and jobs.
D&AD: Global Association for Creative Advertising & Design Awards
D&AD represents global creative, design and advertising communities and celebrates brilliance in commercial creativity.
Design Council (UK)
Helps people and organisations in business, education, public services and government understand design and use it effectively as part of their strategy.
DIA: Design Institute of Australia
As Australia’s peak industry body for professional design, the DIA represents Australian design and designers both domestically and internationally. The DIA brings together design practitioners with people and organisations who employ, commission, support and promote designers. As such, our membership includes design practitioners and participants in Australia’s design industry.
Ico-D: International Council of Design
The Council’s vision, mission and core values are manifested through initiatives that promote and represent design as a medium for progressive change.
International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD)
A professional body run by and for typographers, graphic designers and educators. The Society has an international membership who share and support its aim to create and inspire interest in all forms of typographic communication.