Practice Notes
Stay Informed. Scroll Or Search For Helpful Resources.
-
The DIA has a comprehensive reference set of Practice Notes to assist DIA designer members in their professional practice.
The Practice Notes cover areas such as contracts, tendering, administration, the legal business environment, fees, salaries, intellectual property and much more.
A complete set of Practice Notes is provided as a member benefit to MDIA members. Other practitioners can contact the DIA to purchase these materials.
DIA General members can download a discipline-specific Study Set of Practice Notes and the Summary Fee & Salary Practice Note.
Complete sets and individual DIA Practice Notes are available for purchase.
Practice Notes marked ’General’ are suitable for any design discipline while those that indicate a specific discipline generally contain terminology and situations specific to that discipline. The principles and methods discussed are often adaptable to other disciplines.
-
We are looking for new ways to engage with our members & connect them to relevant resources that aid their careers in design.
To assist with this process we have assembled a working group to outline the way forward. If you would like to be involved or find out more please contact us.
-
Use of Practice Notes guidelines can be downloaded here.
Industrial Design Fee Types
There are a number of methods of charging fees for industrial design. At times it may be appropriate to charge using different methods for different aspects of a project. The most common methods are outlined in this practice note.
Interior Design Fee Types
There are a number of methods of charging fees for residential interior designers and decorators. Consultants and their clients are free to negotiate on any basis whatsoever. The most common methods are outlined in this practice note.
Intellectual Property for Designers
The simplest definition of Intellectual Property (IP) is a productive new idea. The word ‘productive’ means that the idea is commercially applied. The word ‘new’ is crucial – you must prove that you are the first to create your idea. These concepts underpin all the different types of IP rights. The most commonly used IP protection for designers are design rights.
Fees and Services
Fee types and fee scheduling used in consulting design including some sample forms for determining and communicating fees.
Disputes and Consumer Protection
This Practice Note outlines the Design Institute of Australia’s policy and process for resolving disputes relating to design services and protecting consumers of design professional services.
Contract Guidelines
General outline of designer and client responsibilities in relation to contracts and the preparation of briefs. Use as a checklist when formulating contracts or price submissions.
Confidentiality Agreement
From time to time clients may require you to sign a form to control the disclosure of commercially sensitive information during business transactions. The following is an example of a form used by clients. Alternatively, there may be circumstances when you may require your subcontractors to sign such a form.
Generative AI and AGI – Artificial General Intelligence
The DIA's Generative AI and AGI – Artificial General Intelligence Practice Note is a must-read for all designers and creative industry executives and a critical Resource for all design organisations.