Membership

DIA membership brings together a national community committed to advancing design’s relevance and influence across Australia.

 

Membership underpins DIA’s advocacy for designers, strengthening professional standards and shaping policy, regulation and public understanding of design across government, education and industry. It unites designers from all disciplines and career stages — from students and early-career designers to established and senior practitioners — alongside people, businesses, educators and institutions that recognise design’s vital role in Australia’s cultural, social and economic life.

Through membership, designers connect with professional networks and gain access to continuing professional development opportunities and practical resources that support their practice and career progression.

Membership also enables designers to pursue nationally recognised DIA Accredited Designer™ status, affirming qualifications, experience and a commitment to professional standards.

For lovers of design, membership offers a meaningful way to invest in Australia’s design ecosystem and support the design profession through DIA’s national advocacy and leadership.

Join DIA and be part of the national community shaping Design in Australia.

DIA General Membership

General
$325 + GST per individual per annum

One annual payment or by monthly direct debit

Concession
$45 + GST per individual per annum

One annual payment

Available to eligible members, including students, healthcare card holders and seniors. Verification of eligibility is requested.

  • General Membership is open to everyone – people working in design and affiliated sectors, design students and early-career practitioners – and members of the public who wish to stay connected with the design community and support DIA’s national advocacy and leadership.

    • Contribute to DIA’s national advocacy for the design profession

    • Stay informed with DIA EDMs featuring industry news, insights and events

    • Connect with peers and leaders through networking opportunities across the design community

    • Complimentary access to DIA Practice Notes supporting professional practice

    • Enjoy complimentary access to DIA-delivered events, online and in person

    • Benefit from discounts on design industry resources and partner events

    • Students and early-career designers also enjoy access to complimentary and discounted events and programs tailored to their career stage.

  • General Membership welcomes all who share an interest in the Australian design profession and its impact.

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Join (Concession)

DIA Accredited Designer

$625 + GST per individual per annum

One annual payment or by monthly direct debit

  • DIA Accredited Designer™ membership is for designers seeking nationally recognised accreditation and professional recognition.

    • Enjoy and receive all membership benefits available under DIA General Membership

    • Promote your professional standing through post-nominal use MDIA

    • Authorised use of the official DIA Accredited Designer™ logo across marketing and professional materials

    • Advance your professional development and earn CPD points with ease through participation in the DIA events and recognised activities outlined in the CPD Guidelines

    • Access discounted Professional Indemnity insurance and other relevant professional cover

    • Access free legal advice on Australian copyright law through the Australian Copyright Council

    • Access to legal assistance service, including an initial 30-minute consultation per annum with expert advisors from Aintree Group Legal.

    • Contribute to the leadership of the profession through eligibility to serve on both the DIA Branch and National Council and have voting rights at official DIA meetings such as the Annual General Meeting or participate in DIA-led advocacy and professional initiatives

  • There are two recognised pathways for designers seeking accreditation:

    Pathway 1

    • A minimum of five years’ professional design experience after graduation employed in a recognised design role

    • A design qualification recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), typically:
      – AQF 6 (Advanced Diploma) or
      – AQF 7 (Bachelor Degree)

    • In design disciplines where the highest undergraduate qualification is AQF 5 (Diploma) — such as digital media, furniture design and interior decoration — AQF 5 may be accepted

    • Evidence of current Professional Indemnity insurance cover

      Designers holding a Certificate IV (AQF 4) are eligible for DIA General Membership.


    Pathway 2

    • A portfolio of professional design work may be considered in lieu of formal qualifications, for evaluation through the DIA National Office

    • Evidence of current Professional Indemnity insurance cover


    Accredited Designer membership requires a completion of 50 CPD points per calendar year and agreement to terms set-out in the DIA Code of Conduct.

    See the DIA Accredited Designer™ checklist for details on the application process, required information and supporting documentation.

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DIA Registered Design Entity

$1025 + GST per annum on annual payment

  • DIA Registered Design Entity is available to companies and organisations that support, enable and work with designers, including:

    • Design Practice / Agency

    • Design-Led Enterprise

    • Design Education Provider

    • Affiliated Industry Organisation, Government & Cultural Organisation

    • Receive two individual DIA General Memberships to the value of $650.00 and receive all membership benefits available within category

    • Receive 25% discount on additional individual DIA General Memberships or DIA Accredited Designer™

    • Authorised use of the official DIA Registered Design Entity logo across marketing and professional materials

    • Education providers with Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status gain recognition as DIA Registered Design Educators  and may promote eligible design courses through the DIA Recognised Course™ program.

  • Eligible entities require verification via a valid ABN, ACN, RTO, or Education or Research Provider number.

    Under the DIA Constitution a Registered Design Entity does not carry membership voting rights.

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Pay one forward

Give the gift of membership to a design enthusiast or colleague, or support the next generation by sponsoring a membership for a design student or early-career designer.

Design patrons and corporations can amplify their support by paying memberships forward in bulk.

Gift Membership

Membership FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

  • The DIA has two membership streams: for professional designers and for people associated with the design sector.

    There are three member categories for professional membership: DIA General, DIA Accredited Designer and DIA Registered Design Entity. Refer to Become a Member to determine the category that is relevant to your qualifications and professional experience. Design students enrolled in eligible design courses and people associated with the design sector are eligible to be DIA General members.

  • The DIA only accepts design courses offered by Registered Training Organisations and registered Higher Education Providers (which include universities). Your course needs to be provided by one of these providers and needs to be rated by the Australian Federal Government’s Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) at AQF 6 or 7 or above that is, at least an Advanced Diploma or Degree course. The only exception is where the highest qualification available is an AQF5 Diploma: this typically applies to Interior Decoration, Furniture Design and Digital Media.

  • In many cases, yes. Courses from outside Australia need to be assessed against the Australian Federal Government’s Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). Graduates of courses that have been assessed as equivalent to AQF 6 or 7 or above that is, at least an Advanced Diploma or Degree, will be eligible. The only exception is where the highest qualification available is an AQF5 Diploma: this typically applies to Interior Decoration, Furniture Design and Digital Media.

  • Graduates holding a Certificate IV qualification are eligible to become DIA General member.

    Certificate IV qualifications are often a practical stepping stone to higher qualifications, the graduates of which are eligible to become DIA professional members.

  • The DIA is Australia’s peak industry body that represents Australian professional designers and supports the design sector. The DIA is neither a Registered Training Organisation nor a registered Higher Education Provider and does not run diploma or degree courses.

    The DIA does however offer professional development programs (both face-to-face and online) that assist design practitioners to expand their skills and keep their knowledge up to date. Refer the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) page of this site.

  • The DIA welcomes membership from designers practising in all fields of design. Whilst this policy focuses on professional designers, the DIA also has membership streams for design practices, educational institutions and businesses and individuals who affiliate with, trade with or service the design sector.

  • DIA Recognised Courses are design courses offered by the DIA’s Registered Design Entity members who either verify as a Registered Training Organisations or registered Higher Education Providers (which include universities). The students and graduates of DIA Recognised Courses are automatically eligible to become DIA General members.

    Graduates of other qualifications need to provide details for consideration by the DIA. Refer to Become a Member.

  • The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) is Australia’s professional membership body for designers and design businesses and does not run design courses.

  • Use of the DIA logo, and/or any associated wording, is allowed subject to the following conditions, which vary according to membership status and relationship with the DIA.

    Please visit Use of the DIA logo to see whether use is permitted in your case, and choose the appropriate, corresponding wording.

  • DIA membership last for a period of 12months and then automatically renews on the anniversary date unless opted out. This does not apply to DIA memberships on Concession, who will need to renewed on the ‘anniversary date’.

  • DIA Registered Design Entity membership is ideal for the design departments or faculties within universities and Registered Training Organisations. To be eligible, the department or faculty must deliver at least one qualification that qualifies its graduates to become DIA General members on Concession (Refer to Become a member).

    DIA Registered Design Entiy membership is normally suited to department or faculty level. It is only granted at institution level if all the institution’s courses are in design-related fields.

    DIA Registered Design Enity members are acknowledged and listed on the DIA website and entitled to use the DIA Registered Design Entity member logo on letterheads and websites, and promotional materials associated with their recognised courses.

    In their documentation for recognised courses, DIA Registered Design Entity members are also permitted to use the phrase: ‘Students and graduates of this course may be eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia’.

    All courses offered satisfy the DIA Registered Design Entity membership criteria (refer to Become a member) are automatically eligible to be registered with the DIA as DIA Recognised Courses.

  • The DIA places importance on supporting the professional design sector in Australia and the fully qualified practitioners within it. As a result, the DIA has strict eligibility thresholds for practitioners to be DIA professional members. To check eligibility, refer to Become a member.

  • While the DIA sets standards around the qualifications needed to be a ‘professional designer’, we do not provide advice around which design course will suit the individual. We recommend that you approach tertiary education providers directly to explore whether their courses are suited to your particular skill sets and educational goals.

    For a graduate to be deemed a professional designer, we only accept design courses offered by Registered Training Organisations and registered Higher Education Providers (which include universities). For a graduate to become a DIA member, the course needs to have been provided by one of these providers and needs to be rated by the Australian Federal Government’s Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) at AQF 6 or 7 or above that is, at least an Advanced Diploma or Degree course. The only exception is where the highest qualification available is an AQF5 Diploma: this typically applies to Interior Decoration, Furniture Design and Digital Media.

  • Only DIA Registered Design Entity and DIA Accredited Designer member have the right to use the DIA logo and its associated text. These members can use the logo and text in business promotion, correspondence, in print and electronically.

  • Your membership runs from the date you were accepted as a DIA member and lasts for a period of 12months and then automatically renews, unless opted out. This does not apply to DIA memberships on concession who will need to be renewed on the ‘anniversary date’.

    All members are issued a renewal notice prior to their anniversary date.