The Designer is the official magazine of the CSD and supplemented with Minerva Speaks e.mag.
The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD), headquartered in London, England, is the professional body for designers. It is the world's only Royal chartered body of professional designers. It is unique in that it is multi-disciplinary - representing designers in all design disciplines.
Founded in 1930 as Society of Industrial Artists, the Society is governed by Royal Charter (granted in 1976), and as such its members are obliged to practice to the highest professional standards. It is also a registered charity (UK Registered Charity Number 279393) and adheres to best practice as a membership organisation. Its Royal Patron is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The CSD is not a trade body or association, functioning as a learned society. Membership to the Society is only awarded to qualified designers who must also prove their professional capability during an admission assessment. Members can use the post-nominal letters, MCSD or FCSD (indicating Member or Fellow, respectively), after their names. Both MCSD and FCSD are registered trademarks of the Society.
The Society exists to promote concern for the sound principles of design in all areas in which design considerations apply, to further design practice and encourage the study of design techniques for the benefit of the community. It also seeks to secure and promote a professional body of designers and regulate and control their practice for the benefit of the design industry and the general public.
On joining, members are allocated to a Regional Group. These are East England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South England, South West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, and Hong Kong. The Society's head office is at 1 Cedar Court, Royal Oak Yard, Bermondsey Street in London.
The Chartered Society of Designers also operates The Design Association.
History
The history of the Society reflects the changes and developments in the design profession in the United Kingdom since 1930. Some of the greatest names in design during this period can be found as members of the Society and work produced by members has helped shape society and industry.
Milestones
| Year |
Description |
| 1930 |
Society of Industrial Artists formed following inaugural meeting at the Ye Olde Cock Tavern in London's Fleet Street. |
| 1951 |
First Regional Group formed in Stafford, West Midlands. |
| 1932 |
The Society and its members take a leading role in the redesign of Britain after World War II. |
| 1963 |
The Society changes its name to the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers. |
| 1976 |
Royal Charter granted in recognition of its work in establishing the profession of design. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh becomes Patron and remains so to this day. |
| 1986 |
Changes its name again to the Chartered Society of Designers. |
| 2001 |
The Design Association established as a trading and corporate entity of CSD. |
| 2008 |
DA Accreditation programme offered. |
Older versions of the CSD logo
Design Disciplines
Every member of the Society is allocated a Design Discipline Group, according to the discipline in which they were assessed. These groups work with the Council to formulate policy and professional practice information specific to each design discipline. Every discipline has a committee that oversee matters relating to its specific design activity.
Exhibition Design
- Exhibition and display including permanent and temporary display
- Museum design
Fashion Design
- Fashion and clothing including garments, bags, footwear, millinery and other accessories
Graphic Design
- Type design, typography, lettering and calligraphy for reproduction
- Illustration
- Design for advertising
- Design for print including annual reports, brochures, books and magazines
- Design for two and three dimensional packaging
- Corporate identity
- Applied graphics including signing systems
- Vehicle livery and graphics on product design
- Architectural graphics
- Design for film, television or video reproduction including multi-sensual, time-based or still imagery
- Photography
Interactive Media Design
- Web sites, intranets and extranets
- Multimedia CD-ROMs, DVDs and kiosks
- Computer games
- Interactive elements for video DVDs
- Interactive elements for use within web sites
- Interactive content for mobile devices
Interior Design
- Office, shop, hotel, factory, public, commercial, and industrial interiors
- Domestic interiors
- Television, film and theatre design including sets, lighting and costumes
Product Design
- Engineering based, three dimensional products including capital goods, and consumer goods, environmental and interactive information technology design
- Transportation/automotive design
- Furniture including contract, domestic, free-standing ranges and individual pieces
- Craft related products including ceramics, glass, jewellery, silver, cutlery, toys, souvenirs, travel and leather goods and decorative building elements
Textile Design
- Surface pattern including printed textiles, printed carpets, patterned papers, patterns for ceramics and tiles
- Woven and knitted textiles including rugs and carpets, non-printed wall coverings, laminates
Awards
CSD has an awards programme to ensure that designers are recognised for their work. Awards endorsed or organised by CSD carries enormous merit and value as it is awarded by the world's largest and only Chartered body of professional designers.
The Minerva Medal
The Minerva Medal is the highest accolade the Society can offer and is awarded for a lifetime achievement in the field of design. Over the years it has been received by many who are legends in the design world, who have done much to raise the profile and professionalism of design and the CSD. Whenever the Medal is awarded it is presented at the Minerva Dinner, a special celebration of the Society and its work. The Medal is cast from sterling silver and bears the profile of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge and Education, and the CSD logo.
Past winners include:
Minerva Service Award
The Minerva Service Award is to be awarded to members of the Society who have made an outstanding contribution to the life and success of the Society. Consideration is given to those who have played a leading role in the work of CSD and assisted it to achieve its objects under the Royal Charter. This award has only been recently introduced and as yet, there have been no receipients.
The CSD Life Fund
The CSD Life Fund was established through the generosity of a group of CSD Fellows in 2000. Since then the fund has grown substantially through donations from other Society members. The aim of the fund is to make awards to members who have suffered severe hardship or trauma in order that they may be able to continue with design study or practice.
Prince Philip Designers Prize
The Prince Philip Designers Prize was instigated by CSD's Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1959 and is awarded annually. The award is made to a British designer or design-team leader whose exemplary work has had an effect on the perception of design by the public, and on the status of designers in society. A representative from the CSD, along with those from other design organisations, sits on the panel of judges who meet at Buckingham Palace to determine the winner from an ever increasing shortlist of inspiring designers in all fields of activity. The nominations are submitted from various professional bodies. The winner of the Prince Philip Designers Prize in 2005 was the influential graphic designer Derek Birdsall. Design engineer Alex Moulton and architect Edward Cullinan were both awarded special commendations.
Fashion, product and textile awards
CSD offers awards in each of its major design disciplines and these range from its own Student Medal and awards to those offered in partnership with or sponsored by an organisation or company.
CSD Hong Kong Grand Award
In Hong Kong, the CSD Hong Kong Grand Award is the CSD's highest award for the field of design. Initiated by the CSD's Hong Kong Chapter, it is presented to a person, body or company that has made the most outstanding contribution to the design industry. In 2005, the award was presented to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).
The Design Association
Launched by the CSD in 2006, The Design Association (DA) accredits design businesses and in-house design teams based on a set of design and business criteria that have been researched and identified as markers of best practice and key factors in commissioning design services. Accreditation is underpinned by membership which can only be maintained by undertaking a yearly accreditation review.
References
See also
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