CSD to reveal accreditation criteria

The Chartered Society of Designers is to announce details of its official accreditation and membership framework on 18 June.

The move comes three months after the society awarded its first consultancy accreditation to branding group Bonfire Design. (DW 14 March 2007)

The framework will outline a ‘genetic matrix’ – a mix of creativity, professionalism, skills and knowledge – that is assessed for the accreditation of both individuals and consultancies.

Incorporated within these categories are elements such as ethics, management, innovation, practice methodology, aptitude, previous experience and empirical knowledge.

The society has said it will implement the framework within three of its latest initiatives – Design Association accreditation, DA Design Business Management and the CSD course recognition scheme, which ‘approves’ further education courses.

According to CSD chief executive Frank Peters, the framework will ‘harmonise’ all stages of development of the designer from university through to professional design practice.

Students graduating from a CSD-recognised course will automatically be entitled to CSD membership at a graduate level.