IPA membership shows the value of integration

With regard to Imagination becoming the first design group member of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (DW 3 May), it perhaps demon-strates that advertising now acknowledges in principle the value of integration with design. But I doubt it denotes any change in the battleground of who ‘owns’ a brand. Credit to Imagination for giving it a go.

Jane Simmonds, Managing partner, Conran Design Group, by e-mail



Following the significant debate in the marketing press recently about the blurring that is now occurring over which sort of agency owns the brand relationship with clients, it’s not surprising that we see this same blurring in membership of trade associ-ations. The broadly similar aims, and a commitment to profession-alising their sectors, see the IPA and the Design Business Associ-ation in very similar roles. Not surprising, then, that Imagination belongs to both.

John Mathers, Chief executive officer, Enterprise IG and President, Design Business Association, by e-mail