So what does it provide that’s new?
Look and feel.
As soon as you open the home page you will see a difference. The new functions ensure the public, clients, students, designers, employers, design support and design related persons, are all able to engage with the Society wherever they are in the world. And for those who ask what does the Society do there are 25 purposes why we exist and why we are the professional body for designers across all disciplines.
If you need to employ a designer or commission design then you can Find-a-Designer.
This has been totally redeveloped to include a search engine producing random results for all of the new membership categories, levels of membership, by name and location with each result being expandable into the members own unique online portfolio.
If you’re a parent, student or teaching design then you can Find-a-Course.
A totally new function that will identify design courses by design discipline, location and how they are rated in the CSD Course Endorsement Programme.
A dedicated space for our members.
The ‘Members’ area provides a totally new experience for members from the moment youlogin. Members can manage their own personal portfolio which allows them to upload images of case studies of their work. They are able to add their own contact details and links to websites or social media.
Their portfolio is linked directly to Find-a-Designer which will display the portfolio as a gallery of scrolling images to be browsed by potential clients and employers.
The area contains details of special offers for members which are continually being added. At the sametime they will receive details as to events and Society matters.
Perhaps the biggest innovation is that members will be able to use the interactive CPD function allowing them to record their CPD, whether self-directed or otherwise, plan future CPD and analyse it against CPSK the framework for professional design practice. All entries will be set out as a CPD record that can be used to support the Pathway to Chartered Designer.
Applying made easy but no less rigorous.
Anyone wishing to apply for any membership category within the Society is now able to do so online through a fully interactive process set out in three stages: Registration, Application and Ratification. Those seeking membership are able to set up their own user account and complete the application process at their leisure providing a personal profile, setting out how they practice and uploading their application case studies. They are able to review and edit any part of the process before making the final submission.
Guidance notes of the application requirements can be downloaded for each membership and there are helpful tooltips against all of the application when completing details. Throughout theprocess applicants will receive online notifications of their progress as elements are reviewed.
Members upgrading from one membership level to the next are also able to do so through the online functionality.
Not just about awarding membership.
In the awards section of the website you can now find details of both current and past awards together with an archive of images. The section includes the CEP Awards (Course Endorsement Programme) which are announced each year and which offer a prize to one student from each of the courses in the programme. There is an archive that can be viewed year on year and each opens a gallery showing the students work.
Providing you with the Resources you need.
In the ‘Resources’ section of the site you will be able to visit the library and look through past copies of TheDesigner and OnCourse. Over the coming years the Society will be adding an archive of all its journals/magazines which date back to the 1940s.
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