dba - design business association
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DBA Directory
Fast tracking design buyers to the most appropriate design agencies in the UK
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Documentation
Sorry, only approved design-buyers, or key members of staff of this agency, can access the details on this page.
If you are a design buyer login or register.
Any questions? Email directory@dba.org.uk.
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Health and Safety Policy
Health and safety policy - a legal requirement for businesses of 5 or more staff showing arrangements put in place for managing health and safety in the agency.
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Diversity Policy
This is a diversity policy - it will document the agency's approach to hiring staff from different ethnic and minority backgrounds as well as possibly different sexual orientation.
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Disaster Recovery Plan / Procedure
Disaster Recovery Plan / Procedure - a document illustrating the process that will ensure business continuity in the event of an unanticipated happening such as a power failure, fire or flood.
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Intellectual Property Policy
Intellectual Property Policy - This is an overview of the agency's approach to IP and its exchange, illustrating who owns the IP at the end of the project.
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Training Policy
Training Policy - an overview of how the agency's staff stay up to date with training on everything from the latest software versions to personal skills.
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Data Protection Statement
Data Protection Statement - details how the agency deals with data protection from looking after client company details, to working with confidential information and projects.
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HR / Employment Policy
HR / Employment Policy - should document how the agency recruits, looks after, manages and lets go of all staff. It should document procedures such as grievance / complaints as well as staff holiday entitlement.
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Environment Policy
Environment Policy - deals with the agency's approach to environmental issues and how it works with and supports clients from an environmental standpoint.
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Code of Conduct Statement
Code of Conduct Statement - how agency staff are expected to behave at agency premises, at clients’ premises, on neutral ground and perhaps after hours.
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Ethical Policy
Ethical Policy - details the moral and ethical standpoint of the agency's business, detailing the types of clients they would, or would not, like to work with?
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Use of sub contractors statement
Use of sub contractors - how and when the agency might use sub-contractors (e.g. freelancers, photographers), how they select and vet them, as well as how they might be remunerated. It details their responsibilities, and the agency's, to the client.
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Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution - documents the processes the agency has in place to deal with a client dispute.
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Agency / Organisational Chart
Company / Organisational Chart - illustration of the structural set up of the agency.
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Sustainability Policy
Sustainability Policy - how the agency manages themselves internally in a sustainable way (recycling cartridges, carbon footprint, travel etc.)
Agency Name
Use this if you know the name, or part of, the agency you would like to view
Employees
You may want to consider the size of the agency you work with, as this may give you an idea of scale of project they are able to undertake. Would you like to the be the sole focus of a smaller, boutique team or part of a global agency working across multiple platforms.
Keywords
Use this to search the words within each profile, perhaps to look for agencies that have worked with a particular brand or product aligned to your own business.
Awards
Search for agencies that have won awards for their work - both for creativity and effectiveness.
Sectors
Use this to narrow down agencies to those that already have experience and knowledge of your particular business sector.
Branding
Designers in this area deal with the way a company communicates who it is and what it does, defining a differentiated proposition for the business. They will typically develop an identity system that will include a logo, typeface, colour palette and any photography or imagery required.
Digital
Digital design deals with the way a business is expressed online. Increasingly, digital designers will also be able to develop phone applications and other access media applications. This sector will also help develop everything from powerful presentations to CD ROMs and digital media for customer use.
Interior
Interior design will cover everything from retail and office space to large public spaces and design for domestic spaces. Typically interiors designers will get involved with the entire fit-out process.
Packaging
Packaging design includes labelling and protective covers as well as the actual box, carton or pack the product arrives in. Some packaging designers also deal with point-of-sale materials such as the retail unit that may display the packaged goods in store.
Graphic
Graphic design deals mainly with two-dimensional design or what is sometimes referred to as design for print. This will typically include stationery, brochures, catalogues and internal communication materials as well as technical information and forms. Designers in graphic design may specialise in Information Design or Internal Communications.
Product
Product designers will deal with anything that is three dimensional and typically manufactured. This may include components of larger designs, complete products, consumer goods and even 3D structural packaging. They may have engineering support in-house and will be able to deliver a set of CAD drawings ready for tooling and production.
Service/Wayfinding
Service Design: This is a relatively new specialism for agencies. It deals with the development and delivery of a service offer both online and off line. It will cover all aspects of the service from the customer experience to the internal resources required to support the service on a day-to-day basis.
Wayfinding & Environmental Graphics: Wayfinding works out how people should move in, out and around an environment, then formalises the findings into a scheme that defines all the elements required. These elements are centred on environmental graphics that encompass signs as well as associated colour, texture, lighting, furniture and architecture.
Internal
Internal Communications designers specialise in developing solutions for delivering information and behavioural changes to the staff within an organisation. This may involve both graphic and digital design.
Exhibitions
Exhibition design covers design outputs required to promote a product or service in a designated space. This could be a stand at a trade show or a small booth at a local networking event. In some cases it may also include the development and construction of the final design.
Other
This is a useful tool for searching for agencies that have other marketing expertise alongside their design offer.
PQQ
Agencies with the PQQ Badge have provided information that would be requested in a PQQ, making them ready for procurement.
