Professional certification for designers
Out of context: Reply #8
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- hans_glib0
@ raf:
I don't think they mean to be elitist, but they're trying to establish an acceptable standard of competence to become a member. The idea is that clients see the MCSD (or CDes, whatever) and know that they'll get a decent standard of service. Which is fair enough.
Given that any arse with a computer and the right software (Microsoft Publisher) can call themselves a designer, how is a client supposed to know if the person in front of them is any good? Membership of the CSD is awarded by a panel of your peers - you have to present your work to the panel in person and talk about all aspects of the business. So it means more than just some subscription - it means that respected professionals in your industry recognise that you have talent and ability and so a client should be able to trust you. If the CSD could sell this concept to the profession then it might work.
The problem is that they can't sell it to the profession (look at the caustic comments here and elsewhere) and they haven't been able to get the wider world to understand what the designation means. Perhaps because the wider world doesn't really understand what design is worth and what it can do to their business.
There's a discussion about just this (and lots of other hand-wringing stuff) on their linkedin page: http://tinyurl.com/ye776zs