The Design Society is built on the foundations laid by the WDK (Workshop Design – Konstruktion) Society. WDK was an informally constituted international society based on a common interest in engineering design. WDK was founded in the early nineteen eighties on the inspiration of Professor Vladimir Hubka (†) and with two other founding members, Professor Mogens Myrup Andreasen and Professor Umberto Pighini (†). Under Professor Hubka‘s overall guidance and with the support of the founding members and Professor W. Ernst Eder WDK grew to become a truly international society that has made major contributions to Design Science. WDK was responsible for establishing the International Conferences on Engineering Design (ICED series) and has supported an extensive range of publications. It was Professor Umberto Pighini (†) who took the bold initiative to establish the first conference in the ICED series in Rome in 1981 (ICED 81). Subsequently, many dedicated individuals have contributed to the development of WDK and the ICED series of conferences. The Design Society is fortunate to be able to build on WDK‘s foundation of 15 ICED conferences, 26 major publications and more than 60 workshops on a wide range of topics. All previous activities and responsibilities of WDK are taken over by the Design Society, including the right to continue the ICED conferences.
The spirit of mutual support, co-operation and objectives created by WDK will be the guiding influence in the Design Society.
The Design Society concentrates on activities that transcend national boundaries, and, where possible, will seek to complement national activities.
The initiatives, themes, issues and questions addressed by the Design Society are discussed and disseminated through the Design Society‘s conferences and workshops, along with their associated publications.
The Society is registered as the Design Society at University of Strathclyde, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, United Kingdom.
The Design Society, hereinafter called the Society, is an international non-governmental, non-profit making organisation (charitable company) whose members share a common interest in design.
The objects of the Society shall be to promote the education and understanding of all aspects of design, be it mechanical, civil, architectural, graphical, etc., by the encouragement and understanding, appreciation and development of design in whatever media expressed and in furtherance to:
Membership is open to persons with recognised design qualifications and/or experience in the fields of design research, design practice, design management, and design education.
In pursuing its objectives the Society shall observe the basic policy of non-discrimination. Membership will be without regard to race, religion, political philosophy, ethnic origin, citizenship, language or gender.
An individual who has fully paid the designated membership subscription for a year is considered a member during that year. There are four classes of membership: Honorary Fellow, Fellow, Member, and Associate Member.
An Honorary Fellow is an individual recognised by the Society to have rendered outstanding services to the aims of the Society or to the design community in general, due regard being paid to the fact that this is the highest honour the Society can bestow.
A Fellow is an individual recognised by the Society to have made a truly significant contribution to the Society and its aim and objectives.
A Member is an individual whose membership is based on qualifications and/or professional experience, in the fields of design.
An Associate Member is an individual who is actively engaged in a design field and who is achieving qualifications and/or experience to be admitted into the Society as a Member. An individual can become an Associate Member by applying to the Society and can only be an Associate Member for a maximum period, which will be defined and announced by the Board of Management.
Procedures to become an Associate Member, a Member, a Fellow or a Honorary Fellow will be defined and announced by the Board of Management.
A member shall be entitled to append to their name the initial letters indicating their membership as follows:
Members in all four classes may join all events and initiatives organised by the Society, and are encouraged to take new initiatives within the objectives of the Society, in particular through Branches and Special Interest Groups.
Each member pays an annual subscription to the Society. Members will receive regular information on the activities of the Society. Membership terminates when a member leaves. The Board of Management may also terminate a membership if a member violates the Society‘s Code of Conduct. If a member has not paid the appropriate subscription for a period of more than six (6) months after the subscription falls due, the membership of that person shall be deemed to have lapsed. Two months notice of termination of membership is required.
The Board of Management is the Governing Body of the Society and is responsible for managing all business of the Society. On particular matters the Board of Management may delegate powers to appropriate bodies or individuals to act on behalf of the Society.
The Board of Management will number five (5) elected members of the Society including the President, Vice President and Secretary. Other members may be invited for particular items of business.
Up to three (3) other members may be co-opted. The normal term of a co-opted member shall be one year.
The Board of Management quorum will be three (3) elected people with all members of the Board of Management having prior notification of the agenda, one (1) month in advance, and absent members having endorsed the meeting.
The Board of Management may invite up to three (3) additional participants to discuss particular items of business.
The most recent past President of the Society, if not an elected member of the Board of Management, shall be an additional member of the Board of Management without voting rights on the Board of Management.
Members of the Board of Management will be elected from a slate of candidates prepared and approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Advisory Board. The candidates shall themselves be members of the Society and shall be elected democratically by the members of the Society at the General Meeting.
The normal term of a Board of Management member will be four (4) years with opportunity for one further term. The terms of the Board of Management must ensure at least two members are subject to election every two years to ensure a degree of rotation and continuity.
The office of the President is limited to two terms of two years.
The offices of the Board of Management are decided by the Advisory Board, based on a proposal of the Board of Management. Members of the Board of Management cannot also be members of the Advisory Board except in the case of the President (VI).
The Advisory Board shall consist of the President or President’s nominee and up to twenty seven (27) members of the Society.
The Advisory Board will be managed by a Chair, who will be responsible to organise the annual meeting of the Advisory Board. The Chair will be elected by the members of the Advisory Board.
The office of the Chair is limited to two terms of two years.
The Advisory Board will advise, guide and support the Board of Management in developing and furthering the aim and objectives of the Society. It will do this by bringing forward for consideration by the Board of Management any item of business or topic pertinent to the Society. Recommendations made by the Advisory Board will not be binding on the Board of Management.
The Advisory Board, in collaboration with the Board of Management, will prepare a field of candidates for election to the Board of Management at the General Meeting.
Members of the Advisory Board are elected at the General Meeting by members of the Society. At least ten (10) members must propose a candidate for election to the Advisory Board.
The normal term of an Advisory Board member will be six (6) years with opportunity for one further term.
A General Meeting of all members will be called every two (2) years. Matters of interest or business raised by the Board of Management and the Advisory Board will be presented, discussed and, if required, voted upon. Any member who is unable to attend a meeting may by informing the President in writing constitute another member participating in the meeting as proxy. In the intermediate years voting will be carried out by correspondence.
The business of the Society is chaired by the President or a nominee of the Society. The Vice President would act in the President‘s duties in case of absence. Failing that both these officers cannot fulfil their duties a Board of Management elected member will be appointed by the acting President.
Any member can raise a topic as a matter for discussion at the General Meeting or by correspondence. Items for discussion must be brought to the attention of the Board of Management at least three (3) months in advance. The agenda is set by the Board of Management at least one month ahead of the date for the General Meeting. The Board of Management is responsible for reporting the finances of the Society.
Under exceptional circumstances a General Meeting can be called at any time by the Board of Management with three months notice.
Attendees at the General Meeting include:
Only members of the Society are entitled to vote.
Each member shall have one vote. Any alterations to the Constitution will require a majority of two thirds of the votes cast from the membership.
In elections the persons elected shall be those for whom the largest number of votes has been cast. The elected members will be announced to the Society. Each member of the Society can vote for up to half (rounded) of the posts to be filled.
Balloting will be confidential. Vote count will be confidential but open to auditing.
For all other matters determined by voting of the members a simple majority of the valid votes is required.
A vote is valid if the number of votes cast exceeds one quarter of the total number of members of the Society registered 6 weeks before the date of voting. If the number of votes cast does not meet this requirement then a second vote will take place with only the members of the Board of Management and the Advisory Board casting votes.
On approval of the Board of Management, Branches of the Society may be established in order to promote local activities and involvement. Branches will normally conduct their business within national or regional boundaries.
Branches will be managed by a Branch President who will be responsible to the Board of Management for organising Branch activities. Branch committees may be established and maintained locally to support the Branch President with their tasks.
The office of the Branch President is limited to two terms of two years.
Branch Presidents will be responsible for promoting and maintaining a professional standard of the Society and reporting on an annual basis to the Board of Management the Branch business and activities. Continuation of a Branch is subject to review and approval by the Board of Management.
Branches may be asked by the Board of Management to take charge of tasks of the Society. Members of Branches must also be members of the Society.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) may be established with approval of the Board of Management. SlGs shall be responsible for the organisation of events and activities within a particular area of interest to furthering the Society‘s aim and objectives.
A SIG will be managed by a SIG Leader(s) who will be responsible to the Board of Management for oranising SIG activities. Appropriate committees can be established in order to support the SIG Leader in carrying out their tasks.
The SIG Leader will be responsible for reporting on an annual basis to the Board of Management the SIG’s activities. Continuation of a SIG is subject to review and approval by the Board of Management.
Members of SIGs must also be members of the Society. SIGs may welcome non-members to participate in their activities.
The Board of Management will establish Management Committees to carry our particular tasks on their behalf such as organising conferences. The members of these committees must be members of the Society and are appointed by the Board of Management. The rules of procedure for these committees shall be laid down by the Board of Management.
The chairpersons of Management Committees shall be appointed by the Board of Management.
The financial means of the Society will be audited by the Treasurer and shall comprise:
In the event of the dissolution of the Society, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society, but shall be given or transferred to a recognised charitable Organisation(s) having objects similar to those of the Society.
download: ds_constitution_2009.pdf
