The Design Leadership Network promotes the growth of the design marketplace through education, inspiration, experience and community. Join the conversation!

Membership Benefits

SIGNATURE EVENTS:

  • Design Leadership Summit: The Design Leadership Summit is our annual global conference featuring world-class speakers, private tours, intimate dinners, informative workshops, and a gala.
  • Design Leadership Workshop: The Design Leadership Workshop is an intimate conference of DLN Members that includes business-minded programming, break-out sessions, and workshops held in beautiful locations.
  • Design Leadership Business Forum: The DLN Business Forum provides essential access into the critical topics and emerging demands of our rapidly changing business climate. This program includes illuminating speakers, discussion groups, and networking time with our audience of business-minded Members and Partners.
  • Expert Access Series: Expert Access is a webinar series in which the DLN invites key experts to virtual calls informing and educating DLN Members and Partners, and connecting them to issues and opportunities in real time. Examples of past Expert Access calls include discussions on contracts, publishing, construction and job-site safety, book publishing, hiring, and more.

REGIONAL & SPECIAL EVENTS:

  • Community Gatherings: DLN Community Gatherings include intimate dinners, educational presentations, and networking cocktails at select industry and design-market experiences around the world that build relationships and enhance the value of attending industry events.
  • Behind-the-scenes Tours: Produced throughout the year, these special events provide DLN Members with an insider’s view of successful practices, distinctive venues, and innovative collaborations.
  • DLN Travels: Intimate, in-depth VIP excursions are coordinated for DLN Members, providing exclusive access to diverse cultures, distinctive design, and architecturally stimulating destinations around the world.

MEMBER-LED EXPERIENCES:

  • Forums: Small peer-to-peer groups made up of a mix of Members and Partners that meet virtually and in person. The key to Forum is absolute confidentiality, enabling members to delve into issues from business to personal and receive feedback and support. The annual forum price is $650. Click for more details and submit your indication of interest.
  • Interest Groups: Interest Groups are interactive virtual conversations between DLN Members who check in and share knowledge and experiences about a given topic. They represent an opportunity for immediate access to peers whose perspectives can help make a difference or solve a problem.

MEDIA & RESOURCES:

  • Access to the DLN member website and digital directory and inclusion in our annual printed Membership Directory.
  • The Journal: The Journal is our bi-monthly newsletter sharing what’s happening in the community.
  • Insiders Guide: The Insiders Guide is a unique resource for travel and design services across the country and around the world. The recommendations come from DLN Members with trustworthy design sensibility, insight on quality, and deep experience.
  • Research & Surveys: Design Masters Research is the formal output of working groups formed among members of the Design Fellows Council and an outside expert.
  • Design Fellows Council:DLN Fellows focus on helping the DLN and its Members improve design education through working groups, program leadership, and other contributions that explore the evolution of design firm practices and create unique experiences for DLN Members. Comprised of esteemed leaders of the design community who have contributed to the DLN throughout our history, the DLN Fellows provides an extraordinary level of advice and support for many DLN programs and our Members. Initial projects have included new proprietary Fellows Research in design contracts and the stages of design firm growth, and panels, talks, and tours in which DLN Fellows share deep insights into their work, careers, and inspiration. The DLN Fellows includes the Members below and is chaired by Michael Boodro.
Member Profile

DOMESTIC MEMBERSHIP:

Domestic Members are characterized by their commitment to professional growth, positive leadership, interest in learning, and contributions to our community and the market-at-large.  They are recognized by the quality of their work, are frequently published in the media, and often have multiple facets to their firms including product design, retail and media ventures, and other initiatives.

Requirements:

  • Top position within firm: Principal, Founder, Managing Partner, President, Chief Executive Officer, Design Director, or a similar title denoting the status of a principal
  • Two (2) DLN member sponsors or sponsors from other approved lists that speak to the applicant’s (1) talent and (2) professional integrity
  • Professional photography of projects and current professional high-res headshot
  • At least five years of design experience
  • Published work in regional/national/international design publications

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:

Associate membership provides designers, architects, and industry professionals under 40 with a pathway to DLN membership and includes an opportunity for professional mentorship by DLN Members and DLN Fellows (formerly “Design Masters”).

Requirements:

  • High-level position within firm: Senior Designer, Associate Partner, Vice President, or a similar title denoting a high level of responsibility with the likelihood to matriculate into a principal status within three years
  • Two (2) DLN member sponsors or sponsors from other approved lists that speak to (1) talent and (2) professional integrity
  • Professional photography of projects and current professional high-res headshot
  • At least three years of design experience
  • Published work in regional/national/international design publications

DLN FELLOW (formerly “Design Master”):

DLN Fellows focus on helping the DLN and its members improve design education through working groups, program leadership, mentorship activities, and other contributions that explore leadership and best practices, and create unique experiences for DLN members. Comprised of esteemed leaders of the design community, the Design Fellows Council provides an extraordinary level of advice and support for many DLN programs and our members.

Requirements:

  • The highest level of achievement within the design field as expressed through public recognition, honors, publications, academic contributions, and the general esteem of the design community

PROFESSIONAL MEMBER:

Requirements:

  • Eligible fields within the design industry: Journalism, Recruitment, Press & PR, Strategy, Business Coaching, Law, Accounting, or similar
  • Top position within firm: Principal, Founder, Managing Partner, President, Chief Executive Officer, Publisher, Senior Vice President, or a similar title
  • Two (2) DLN member sponsors who have worked with/for them that speak to (1) talent (2) professional integrity and (3) value they bring to DLN
  • Professionally-designed website and current professional high-res headshot
  • At least five years of experience working with designers, architects, and/or landscape architects
  • Current clients with public profile (through TV, social media, academic contributions, etc.)

 

 

Becoming a Member

The price of DLN Membership is an annual fee of $2200. For anyone outside of the United States and Canada, International DLN Membership is an annual fee of $1100.

For further information on becoming a member of the Design Leadership Network, please contact us or apply online at the link below.