Membership of CSD signals to clients, employers and others in the design sector that you have been recognised by the professional body as practicing to the highest standards.

Members benefit from the use of post nominal letters, certificates, membership marques, signboards and online portfolios enabling them to promote their professional achievement.

We are the internationally recognised professional body for designers in all disciplines, benchmarking and accrediting best professional design practice and study.

As a registered charity we provide public benefit by promoting, qualifying and maintaining professional standards for designers.

Our programmes, initiatives, benefits, services and advice support designers in practice, those studying and teaching design and design users whether in the public or private sector.

We have developed the CSD Genetic Matrix™ (CPSK) against which professional design practice is benchmarked and which underpins design practice, education, training and accreditation. It harmonises with frameworks adopted by other professions.

We have been granted exclusive powers by HM Queen Elizabeth II to hold The Register of Chartered Designers enabling the award of Chartered Designer.

We designed, developed and offer the Course Endorsement Programme which supports and acknowledges those design courses preparing students for a career as professional designers.

We offer membership categories to suit designers at every stage in their professional career and to engage with those practicing in design related fields.

We represent the interests of professional designers to sector stakeholders and ensure there are communication channels available for designers to influence developments affecting their profession.

Our members are encouraged to continually develop their competencies for the benefit of their employers and clients ultimately benefitting the public. A range of events, tools and modules are provided to assist our members.

A range of activities, events and social media channels allows our members the opportunity to connect and engage with others either in their own design field or in other design disciplines as well as with those in education and related practice.

We provide our members with opportunities for business development through inclusion on Find-a-Designer and specific matchmaking events, nationally and internationally, organised by both the public and private sectors.

Whatever the situation, we are there to support our members and either offer one-to-one counselling on a range of matters or partner with others to provide the specific expertise required.

Our members benefit from a range of discounts and special offers including: books, events, exhibitions, conferences, insurances, software, business services, etc.

We keep the design sector up to date with TheDesigner for practitioners and OnCourse for those in education. Our full range of social media channels allows two way communications and we broadcast specific emails targeted to members’ interests.

As a member of CSD you are welcome to participate in any of our initiatives such as: assessing, sitting on accreditation panels, working on committees, visiting schools and universities, giving talks, participating at exhibitions, sitting on advisory boards, etc.

We offer a variety of awards spanning all levels of design practice: CEP annual student prizes, Minerva Medal, Honorary Membership and Fellowship plus prizes and competitions in collaboration with other entities.

We administer the Anice Alexander fund, British Institute of Interior Design fund, Life fund, Chartered Society of Designers Trust fund and a further yet unnamed fund. All support various aspects of design practice and education.

We maintain a complete archive of journals dating back to the 1930s together with membership data spanning decades. Other publications in the archive provide insights into the development of the profession since 1930. Members regularly donate material to the archive.

This enables us to engage with a wide audience to promote professional design practice and our members. It also enables us to more readily fulfil our public benefit remit. We collaborate on research, training, professional development, education and other initiatives.

We inspire: those seeking career information to consider all design areas, design students to excel in their study of design, academic staff with innovative programmes and briefs, design practitioners to continually develop their professional competences and professionals in related fields to collaborate with designers.

Our database of designers covering almost a century provides invaluable material that is able to inform the academic study of the profession and offers a wealth of statistical information now being complimented by our regular design surveys providing current data and future trends.

Our programmes of support, benefits and services are all structured to protect designers working across all design disciplines as much as possible. In protecting designers we in turn protect clients, customers and consumers.

We set, maintain, promote and uphold the standards for professional design practice.