Certification in the USA, or in any other country for that matter, must arise as a partnership that honors the diversity of knowledge and backgrounds that form our professional network. It is essential that we institute a new professional design entity, one that assumes a leadership role and embraces, through certification, the responsibilities and duties of all designers.
The organization in charge will be called Certifying Responsible Design (CRED). The following guidelines presents CRED as the organism responsible for establishing a comprehensive certification system and providing opportunities for the growth and advancement to its membership body.
THE ASSOCIATION MUST BE:
: an independent non-profit organization.
: partnered with major local and international design bodies.
: governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of working designers, educators, businesses and social science professionals, as well as representatives from the public sector.
: invested in fostering activities that unite the design community with the general public.
: organized with no required payment or membership fees that could hinder its transparency and objective mission.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
CRED will establish a set of expected standards applicable to all practicing members. Such criteria will serve to:
: empower designers, fortify their professional standing and stimulate the recognition and value of Design in all areas of the social realm.: cultivate the highest level of education, experience and ethics as the very definition of a competent and responsible Communications Designer.: provide an effective tool to help clients, employers, partners and suppliers identify individuals of the highest standing, proficiency and expertise in the field.: distinguish, not divide, between the level ofcommitment among practicing designers.