DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
Main Content
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary
In our July DBA Members' Forum we talked about right-sizing, how to spot it might be necessary, and what action to take. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
New DBA board directors appointed at AGM
At the DBA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 June, the membership voted in three new board directors.
DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary
In our June DBA Members' Forum we talked about profitability with a specific focus on recovery rates and client servicing. Here’s a...
DBA Members’ Forum | May Summary
In our May DBA Members’ Forum we discussed financial benchmarking, bringing together expert advice and drawing on some in-agency examples. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024 | Winners shortlist announced
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of winning entries for the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024. Congratulations to the agency and client partnerships who will be taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold awards at our live event this autumn.
Delivering value for money – a complex challenge
In 2014, 66% of clients considered their agency to be good value for money but this has decreased to only 45% in 2024. This is an important message to agencies because value for money is a key ingredient of any successful client/agency relationship. So, why the decline?
DBA Members’ Forum | April Summary
In our April DBA Members' Forum, we were joined by Jonathan Kirk, author of Up to the Light’s annual What Clients Think report. Here...
‘What Clients Think’ report: the annual snapshot of client/agency relationships
The 10th annual 'What Clients Think' report by Up to the Light, in association with the DBA, has been launched. Based on 675 in-depth client interviews, the report gives a unique view into client/agency relationships. Access the report and associated resources.
New Designers
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
Main Content
“As we approach the second anniversary of lockdown in the UK, it has been inspirational to see the continuing stories of design effectiveness in this year’s submissions. Companies from the largest to the smallest have used design as a strategic tool to strengthen their relationships with customers, engage them in the values of their brand and communicated their purpose to customers. In an increasingly competitive market in such challenging times, they have invested and reaped the measurable rewards of design.It is encouraging to see the growing diversity of products and services that have entered the awards and proven to the expert jury that design made the difference, in charities, social enterprises and public sector projects. The awards continue to represent the growth of design across service and digital experiences as well as point of sale and brand communication.
Judging days remain my favourite events of the year as a diverse, international and highly expert panel of judges come together to discuss and debate the impact of design on every submission. The winners, from Bronze to Gold and beyond, can be assured that they have achieved the highest level of evidence that their use of design has bought them success. We recognise and can reward their belief and investment in design and see it lead them out of these times into a future of new opportunities.” Chairman of the Judges, Clive Grinyer
Join us to celebrate the power of design
On Thursday 30 June from 12pm BST, our 2022 winners will find out if they’ve won Gold, Silver or Bronze at the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2022 winners announcement.
The online event, which is free and open to all, is a fantastic opportunity to find out what makes a DBA Design Effectiveness Award winner, so you too can prepare your case.
Tune into the live broadcast to celebrate the power of design and toast the success of our 2022 winners. Register here.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards Winners Shortlist 2022
| Business | Consultancy | Project title |
| Little Bellies | B&B studio | Little Bellies Rebrand |
| Raw Halo | B&B studio | Raw Halo Rebrand |
| Health Education England | Brand Ethos | Step into the NHS Rebranding and Website Redesign |
| Sainsbury’s | BrandMe | SO Organic |
| Aimia Foods | Brandon | Horlicks |
| McCain | BrandOpus | McCain Street Fries |
| 3V Natural Foods | Bulletproof | Meridian Rebrand |
| Mondelēz International – Australia | Bulletproof | Old Gold Rebrand |
| My/Mochi Ice Cream Co. | Bulletproof | My/Mochi Redesign |
| Billson’s | Cowan | Billson’s Rebrand |
| GlaxoSmithKline | DCA Design International | Voltaren Flip-top Easy Open Cap |
| Ministry of Justice | Design102 | #ItStillMatters Campaign |
| Fred. Olsen | ELSE | Fred. Olsen Website Optimisation |
| Bayer Healthcare | goDutch | Midol Brand Restage |
| Barnardo’s | Leap | LifeLabs |
| Shorts Boy Distillery | Lewis Moberly | Tidal Rum |
| ACCO | Oxford Product Design | Leitz IQ Autofeed Office Shredder Range |
| Mars Wrigley | Path | M&Ms 3D Confectionery Advent Calendar |
| DRTY Drinks | Pearlfisher | DRTY Drinks Branding |
| General Mills | Pearlfisher | Cinnamon Toast Crunch |
| Westward Whiskey | Pearlfisher | Westward Whiskey Rebrand |
| UpCircle by Optiat | Studio More Design | UpCircle Branding |
| KP Snacks | This Way Up | KP Nuts Rebrand |
| Oxford Brewery | WPA Pinfold | Oxford Brewery Rebrand |
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary
In our July DBA Members' Forum we talked about right-sizing, how to spot it might be necessary, and what action to take. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
New DBA board directors appointed at AGM
At the DBA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 June, the membership voted in three new board directors.
DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary
In our June DBA Members' Forum we talked about profitability with a specific focus on recovery rates and client servicing. Here’s a...
DBA Members’ Forum | May Summary
In our May DBA Members’ Forum we discussed financial benchmarking, bringing together expert advice and drawing on some in-agency examples. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024 | Winners shortlist announced
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of winning entries for the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024. Congratulations to the agency and client partnerships who will be taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold awards at our live event this autumn.
Delivering value for money – a complex challenge
In 2014, 66% of clients considered their agency to be good value for money but this has decreased to only 45% in 2024. This is an important message to agencies because value for money is a key ingredient of any successful client/agency relationship. So, why the decline?
DBA Members’ Forum | April Summary
In our April DBA Members' Forum, we were joined by Jonathan Kirk, author of Up to the Light’s annual What Clients Think report. Here...
‘What Clients Think’ report: the annual snapshot of client/agency relationships
The 10th annual 'What Clients Think' report by Up to the Light, in association with the DBA, has been launched. Based on 675 in-depth client interviews, the report gives a unique view into client/agency relationships. Access the report and associated resources.
New Designers
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.
Main Content
- To the question of what businesses can and should do in response to the war in Ukraine, Matt took us through the 7 top tips from B Corp UK on how businesses can help. There were also some interesting ideas from others, such as donating old technology equipment, supporting Legal Aid and giving refugees a place to stay. We’re keen to hear from you on this issue and will prioritise getting our members guidance as necessary as it progresses. We’ve compiled an online resource to help you keep on top of how the conflict is impacting business you can access here.
- The government’s Levelling Up agenda makes clear that there isn’t equality of opportunity across the country. We heard some great suggestions from Michael Thompson on bringing together the community on a local level. Nigel Davies highlighted that some of the best colleges are outside of the central regions in the UK, and so there are perhaps opportunities to spread opportunities from those bases. Shray Vaidya also shared a great local level initiative – Speakers for Schools – their aim is to end educational inequality by giving all young people access to the same prestigious networks available to the top fee-paying schools in the UK.
- We were invigorated by Sam Jameson from Soapsmith’s story of how design changed the lives of her and her team. If design is going to contribute to the Levelling Up agenda, it has a key role in creating new jobs, improving living standards, and advancing public services – we as a design industry have a key role to play in this.
Our Members’ Forum takes place on the first Monday of each month, at 4 – 5pm. If you would like to attend, get in touch here.
DBA Roundup
A roundup of industry expertise, exclusive resources, business support and tools for your design business.
DBA Members’ Forum | July Summary
In our July DBA Members' Forum we talked about right-sizing, how to spot it might be necessary, and what action to take. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
New DBA board directors appointed at AGM
At the DBA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 27 June, the membership voted in three new board directors.
DBA Members’ Forum | June Summary
In our June DBA Members' Forum we talked about profitability with a specific focus on recovery rates and client servicing. Here’s a...
DBA Members’ Forum | May Summary
In our May DBA Members’ Forum we discussed financial benchmarking, bringing together expert advice and drawing on some in-agency examples. Here’s a summary of the conversation.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024 | Winners shortlist announced
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of winning entries for the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards 2024. Congratulations to the agency and client partnerships who will be taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold awards at our live event this autumn.
Delivering value for money – a complex challenge
In 2014, 66% of clients considered their agency to be good value for money but this has decreased to only 45% in 2024. This is an important message to agencies because value for money is a key ingredient of any successful client/agency relationship. So, why the decline?
DBA Members’ Forum | April Summary
In our April DBA Members' Forum, we were joined by Jonathan Kirk, author of Up to the Light’s annual What Clients Think report. Here...
‘What Clients Think’ report: the annual snapshot of client/agency relationships
The 10th annual 'What Clients Think' report by Up to the Light, in association with the DBA, has been launched. Based on 675 in-depth client interviews, the report gives a unique view into client/agency relationships. Access the report and associated resources.
New Designers
The UK's largest graduate design event is back this summer and you can secure a free trade ticket for the event today.