EGM PROPOSES CHARTERED DESIGNER
35 YEARS TO THE DAY

One of the Society's objects as set out in its Royal Charter of 1976 is to secure “for the benefit of industry, commerce and the public a defined and recognised profession of persons well qualified to be designers”.

The Society has endeavoured to achieve this object over the past 35 years through assessment of individuals seeking membership of the Society, and the awarding of MCSD and FCSD to those who meet its rigorous standards.

In recent years it has become apparent that the objective could be furthered by awarding a ‘Chartered Designer’ title. In discussions with design-related professional bodies, it has become clear that such a title would greatly further the Society's object it could also be awarded to members of kindred bodies, providing they comply with the requirements of the Society as overseen by a 'licensing committee'. The Society’s Council believes that this would raise the standing of professional designers and help integration and co-operation within the wider and ever increasing design community. During 2009, we consulted widely and learned that there was considerable support for this proposal.

In consequence amendments were proposed to the Charter at the Society’s AGM in 2009. These were part of a package of amendments which included many Bylaw changes intended to modernise the governance of the Society in line with best practice.

During 2010 further wide ranging consultations took place within the membership and with entities which had expressed an interest in participating in the initiative. Throughout the year extensive discussion took place within the various social networks available to the Society and the design press. Following this lengthy dialogue the Society took advice from the Privy Council and agreed that the power to set up a Register of Chartered Designers be put to the membership to reconfirm their support at the AGM on 15 December 2010.

In order not to delay important changes to the Society's governance the Privy Council agreed the Bylaw changes and these are now being effected. At the same time it was considered that an explicit power to create the title ‘Chartered Designer’ should appear in the Charter together with the power to set up the register which had already been unanimously approved by members.

Accordingly, the Society is seeking the approval, of its membership for this and consequential changes, and is calling the Extraordinary General Meeting on Thursday 19 May 2011 to this end. Therefore these wider changes incorporate the specific changes agreed on 15 December 2010.

If the membership approves the resolutions at the EGM the Society will develop a set of Regulations enabling the formation of a Licensing Committee which will progress this exciting initiative.

The EGM will be held on the 35th anniversary of the award of the Society’s Royal Charter in 1976 and it is hoped that it will mark a further flourishing of the Society as it gains new powers. Corporate members of CSD can download details of the EGM here http://www.csd.org.uk/memberlogin.aspx

SPRING CLEANING CALL … DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THE MISSING YEARBOOKS!

As many members of the Society will know, Leah Armstrong is currently undertaking a three year task of 'mapping the design profession'. This is an enormous challenge with little or no previous material available other than the records of various design organisations.

Leah has spoken or met with CSD members and this has proved a great source of information and she is now at the stage of collating data relating to CSD membership over the years. The main source of data is the CSD Yearbooks which the society began publishing in 1958 and which ran through to 1989. Despite collecting quite a few of these reference books from the archive, together with a great amount of dust, Leah is still missing some years and therefore is calling on current or past CSD members to check if they have any copies of these lying around taking up valuable shelf or storage space.

The particular years that are missing are as follows: 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981,1983, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

If you can help please contact Leah on L.Armstrong2@Brighton.ac.uk. It would be great to be able to make a map with no blank spaces!

You may also stumble across some other membership material that you wish to dispose of. If so please let us know first by emailing csd@csd.org.uk . We are particularly interested in any old publications or correspondence. You can follow Leah and keep up to date with the project by visiting her blog at: http://designatlas.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/hello-archive/

CSD PARTNERS WITH NEW DESIGNERS

New Designers, the UK’s most popular graduate design exhibition returns this summer. Without doubt, ND is the premiere showcase for the most exciting design graduates as they emerge from the UK’s design courses to start their professional careers in numerous creative industries embracing: fashion, interior design, multi-media, furniture, products, architecture, graphics and more. The popular summer event gives a snapshot of the hottest ideas, the latest trends and creative minds as some 3500 dynamic new designers come together and present their impressive work at the Business Design Centre. The explosion of creative energy is palpable making New Designers a must-see experience which should not be missed.

New Designers takes place at the Business Design Centre, London, N1 OQH as follows:
Part 1: 29 June - 2 July 2011 (Awards Preview 29 June)
Part 2: 6 - 9 July 2011 (Awards Preview 9 July)
Nearest tube Angel.
For information on opening times and traveling to the venue please visit our website www.newdesigners.com

The designer has obtained special rates for members who can purchase tickets for £10.00 (including booking fee) instead of £14.00. To obtain the relevant code please visit the members’ area of the CSD website.

BOOK REVIEW

THE ART DIRECTORS’ HANDBOOK OF
PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE DESIGN
by Horst Moser

This is a new and revised edition which includes a new chapter covering the latest independent magazines written by the graphic designer and art director Horst Moser who is principal of Independent Medien-Design in Munich, Germany, a design team of 20 people, specialising in editorial design for magazines and books as well as corporate design. Moser highlights the design challenges facing today’s art directors and provides visual examples of the most successful solutions. Illustrated with well over 1,000 colour images, it provides a great source of inspiration for professionals and students. If you have an interest in magazine design this book will not disappoint you.

The Art Directors’ handbook of Professional Magazine Design is published by Thames & Hudson (RRP £35.00) CSD members can buy the book for £27.00 including UK mainland delivery (overseas costs available on request) using the promotional code in the members’ area of the CSD website.

NOTE THIS

DESIGN OPPORTUNITY –
DEADLINE 29 APRIL 2011

Unlocked is working with the National trust to develop an 'Alternative Guide for Brownsea Island'. They are seeking designers to work on this interesting project and a full brief can be downloaded from the 'design Opportunities' pages on the CSD website. Click here to download the brief: http://www.csd.org.uk/memberlogin.aspx

THE DESIGNER LECTURES

We are reintroducing the Designer Lectures and are extremely excited that Sir John Hegarty, Chairman & Worldwide Creative Director of BartleBogleHegarty, has agreed to be the first speaker in the new series. The next lecture will take place in Central London in October 2011 when Sir John will share his ideas on advertising and discuss how to turn intelligence into magic, the title of his forthcoming book. If you would like to receive further details please contact thedesigner@csd.org.uk

MEMBER'S PROFILE

IKI ARA MCSD

Iki was born in Tokyo, Japan in a family of timber merchants dating back to the 1600; therefore, one could easily say that he had the architecture industry in his blood. He studied Architecture and Design in Tokyo, where he became very interested in the human scale of interiors. Luck was on Iki’s side as the start of his career when he joined a famous Japanese design practice: Casappo & Associates., moving later to his own practice in Tokyo. Iki was on the move again this time following his heart when he met and married his English wife in 1986 and relocated to the UK. Initially he worked for two large architecture firms and whilst at Fitch Benoy (Fitch London Group) Rodney Fitch FCSD recommended that he should join CSD.

As Iki says:

"Joining the professional body for designers was not a difficult process and it was extremely rewarding for him as he was allowed to illustrate his extensive experience acquired in Japan and the UK."

Since setting up on his own in 2002, his work concentrates mainly on retail, restaurant and office projects, often collaborating with architects and designers. Shown here are examples of such collaborations as in the Aqua restaurant, done with glamorous, Kent and Curwen flagship store with Softrom and the Hare & Tortoise Reataurant with YFBS, where the challenge was reassuring local residents who did not want a too contemporary façade. Iki hopes to continue to be lucky enough to work on international projects with leading edge designers.