Design Business Association Membership
Established in 1986, the Design Business Association exists to promote professional excellence and to build productive partnerships between commerce and the design industry. The end goal is to champion effective design that improves the quality of people’s lives.
What is the DBA?
With only 450 members nationwide, AD&CO is part of a select group of agencies, meeting the standards required. The DBA is the trade organisation for the UK design industry, which focuses on promoting professional excellence and building productive partnerships between commerce and the design industry. The association champions effective design, communicating its value and the impact it can have on business performance.
AD&CO's Commitment
The Code of Conduct is a set of model recommended practices, which have been designed and developed to provide DBA design agency members with a series of behaviour guidelines and to improve the professionalism of the industry. DBA members use the code of conduct to reflect and influence the way they run their businesses and deal with clients.
DBA Code of Conduct
1. The first responsibility of a member is to whoever commissions the design. (You)
2. In discharging that responsibility, members are expected to act in a competent, honourable and efficient manner.
3. Whilst members may act as consultants or as traders, and may receive payment for services or goods in a variety of ways, providing there is no conflict with their client’s interests, they should disclose to the client all sources of payment before commencing work and should ensure that these are included in any offer or proposal. Similarly, members must disclose to a client any financial involvement with suppliers or sub-contractors or similar third parties involved in the contract.
4. A member company should not work simultaneously on competitive projects without informing the clients involved.
5. Members should not divulge to any other party, information about a client, that is confidential or might be detrimental to his business. This confidentiality may by agreement be limited as to time. Similarly, members should not allow their staff to show work of a confidential nature to others, including potential employers, without prior written agreement.
6. Members should not give or receive substantial benefits which might cause an obligation to any party in a contract and therefore not best serve the interests of the design commissioner.
7. Members shouldn’t take part in pitches that require unpaid work. The level of payment for pitches should relate to the time and effort involved.
8. Members may promote their services by all normal commercial means such as advertising or public relations activity, providing this is legal, decent, honest and truthful.
9. Members shall not knowingly copy the work of another company or practice.
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