Design Society Fellows

From time to time, the Society recognises individuals for their contributions to design research, education, practice and service by bestowing Design Society Fellowships. The grade of Fellow of the Design Society recognises full members for their outstanding contributions to the Design Society through service, practice, teaching, and research. The title of Honorary Fellow of the Design Society recognises a member or non-member for their outstanding contributions to the global design community through service, practice, teaching, or research.

Honorary Fellow
Honorary Fellowship is the highest honour the Society can bestow and is awarded in recognition of having achieved the highest standard of professional achievement in design practice, teaching or research. Honorary Fellows are internationally visible and most eminent in the global design community. They are normally not members of the Design Society. Honorary Fellows reflect the values and aspirations of the Society.

Fellow
A FeIIow is a Society member recognised by the Society as having made a truly significant contribution to the Society and its aims and objectives. Such contributions include significant involvement and publication record in the Society’s events like conferences and workshops, sustainable initiatives to the scientific or professional development of the Society, special commitment to its organisation, or strong contributions to key issues of the Society’s research or educational objectives. The grade of Fellow is reserved for Full Members of the Society. Eligible nominees must have been fully-paid Full Members for at least 6 years.

Nomination Process
Nominations for either Fellow status may be made annually by members completing and submitting the appropriate Fellowship Nomination Form to the Society’s Administrator by 15th January of any given year. Self-nomination of individuals for either Fellow status is not permitted. Nominees should not be informed that they are being nominated for Fellow status.

Selection Process
The Fellowship Committee canvasses for the nominations at least every other year assesses each candidature on its merits and recommends suited candidates to the Board of Management by 15th December of the given year. The Committee may seek confidential advice from AB members if warranted. The Board of Management makes the final decisions as soon as practical and no later than the Rigi Meeting of the following year.

Award Process
The President of the Society contacts the selected nominees and confirms their agreement to accept the honour. Upon acceptance, a public announcement is posted on the Society website. By tradition, the presentation of both awards takes place at a ceremony during the General Meeting of the proximal ICED but can in special cases be bestowed also at other times and locations. The awards consist of a Certificate and a discernible award item. Fellows in each grade are listed alphabetically on the Society website.

Composition of the Fellowship Committee
The Fellowship Committee is comprised of three Society members with long-standing experience of the Society. Committee members may be current or past Advisory Board Members, Fellows, or Honorary Fellows. The Board of Management appoints the committee members and Committee Chair. The committee service is for four years. Upon appointment, the Society President informs the committee members of their duties and terms of reference. The president is available for consultation at any time.

Nomination Form
We offer two ways to make a Fellowship nominattion, either via an online form, or via email, using a Word form. Only one form is necessary to submit:

• Digital Submission Form (links to online form)
• Word Nomination Form (links to an MS-Word file, that should later be sent by email to the DS Administrators)

Adopted by the Board of Management on 7 May 2019