About DAS
DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION SINGAPORE
The Designers Association of Singapore (DAS) is the nationally acclaimed membership body for professional design practices and designers. A national strategic body for design and designers.
Membership in the DAS profiles your status as a qualified, credible and ethical practicing professional.
Your DAS membership affords many benefits, such as access to an extensive network of designers both locally and internationally, services and information about designers, design, design-related industries and para-design associations globally.
VISION AND MISSION
Vision
To ensure that the DAS is a dynamic body representing designers in Singapore with a relevant agenda that recognizes the highest professional and ethical standards in design.
Mission
To promote the best practice of design in Singapore through strengthening and promoting the capabilities of the Singapore design profession, as well as amplifying and presenting a unified voice to Government , industry and the public.
DAS IN SINGAPORE
Support for designers
The DAS accredits designers and ensures a high level of professionalism and ethics amongst its members. It also affords a unified design voice to government, education and industry. Its resources and framework are used to forward the cause of design and designers both in Singapore and the world.
The student chapter of DAS provides a voice and a platform for design students to ensure that their needs are met in education, flowing on to employment conditions in industry. DAS advises on credible and proper employment status and conditions for young designers going into the work force.
The DAS represents designers and design businesses in all disciplines of design. This includes Interactive Media, TV & Film, Photography, Visual Communications, Interior Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Product and Industrial Design, Exhibition, Design Academics and Management. The DAS represents all professional designers in Singapore.
The DAS is a team of voluntary Committee Members who are elected biennially by and from the members. The Executive Committee is responsible for the running of the Association and for formulating policies and initiating projects to promote design and the interests of its members
Roles of the DAS
To support the Vision & Mission statements, the key roles of the DAS are to:
1. Provide accreditation framework and assessment to ensure a high level of professional practice and design capabilities.
2. Promote excellence in design and practice through strengthening the training, education and skills development infrastructure in Singapore.
3. Be a conduit for a comprehensive range of programs and activities that will be of interest to its members and the design sector.
4. Play an integral catalyst organizational role as a national strategic body advising government, industry, education and the community.
5. Provide designer referral services.
6. Provide professional advise, design and legal information to its members.
7. Represent a congruent view and interests of the design collective to government regulatory bodies, economic development agencies, business, academia and the public.
8. Establish, uphold and enforce a high level of professional code and conduct amongst designers
9. Be a platform for authoritative design research, knowledge and information
CONTEXT FOR DESIGN
Every economy in the advanced complex world today depends in one way or another upon design to make a difference to their development and prosperity.
As global competition mounts and new challenges evolve, design has emerged as the key differentiator in an era of rapid change and rising global brands. With giant emerging economies such as China and India having a pivotal role in the world stage, tough choices will have to be made to advance local industries to compete on level terms, at the same time, reducing the impact of climate change. Carbon footprints are talk of the town in today’s environmentally aware landscape. To compete and survive in this fast paced, ever-changing, business environment will require much effort from associations such as DAS to nurture and advance new levels of unity, creativity, innovation and training. Design in Singapore needs to consolidate and strengthen their creative capabilities nationally to make it internationally.
History of Achievements
The DAS has a history of successes from its role in promoting the services of design and designers, locally and internationally.
Some highlights:
1. International Design Forum (IDF)
2. Young Designers Awards (YDA)
3. Young Asian Designers Awards (YADA)
4. Designer Magazine
5. Singapore Design Awards (SDA)
