DLN Fellow Janice Parker accepting the 2022 Design Leadership Award in Rome.
As an organization founded on principles of leadership and community, mentorship is a core part of the DLN. Recognizing the importance of engaging in and nurturing talent early on and throughout a creative career, the organization is proud to announce a new mission-driven membership lifecycle that stretches from emerging design leaders to seasoned experts. With our new Associates and Fellows programs, the DLN inducts exceptionally talented design principals during their rise; enforces the highest standards for general membership; and actively taps the wisdom and leadership savvy of the most accomplished members of our community.
DLN Associates
New in 2023, Associate membership in the DLN provides designers, architects, and industry professionals under 40 with a pathway to full membership status, and includes an opportunity for professional mentorship by DLN Members and DLN Fellows (formerly “Design Masters”). For the DLN, Associate membership supports a next-gen strategy by creating a pipeline of highly-qualified future leaders who are committed to the values of the DLN community. After three years, Associate Members will matriculate into full membership status if, upon review, they meet the criteria for full DLN membership. If they do not, they will be asked to reapply for membership when they have achieved the criteria. At any given time, no more than 15% of DLN members will be DLN Associates. To review the criteria for Associate membership, scan the QR code below, and write to membership coordinator Amanda Oppenheimer (amanda@designleadershipnetwork.org) to nominate an under-40 design principal for consideration as a DLN Associate.
DLN Fellows
Formerly called “Design Masters,” DLN Fellows are esteemed industry leaders who support design education through working groups, program leadership, mentorship activities, and other contributions that explore leadership and best practices in the high-end design industry. Meeting bi-annually with the Design Fellows Council, DLN Fellows will have the opportunity to define their focus as advisors to the DLN, the Design Leadership Foundation, and/or individual Members. In particular, DLN Fellows will be called upon to mentor DLN Associates, as well as design students and interns convened by the Design Leadership Foundation. Initial projects have included new proprietary research on design contracts and the stages of design firm growth, as well as panels, talks, and tours in which Design Fellows share deep insights into their work, careers, and inspiration. To nominate a design-industry luminary for consideration as a Design Fellow, write to Michael Diaz-Griffith at mdg@designleadershipnetwork.org.
View our full membership criteria and begin your application here.