The Organization of Black Designers (OBD) strives to promote its members through program development, business opportunities, scholarly pursuit and continuing education, in addition to a host of activities geared toward the professional development of its membership. As a staunch proponent of the value of design, the Organization seeks to advance designers of color to leadership levels that will expand the boundaries of diversity and energize the design communities at large.
Eligibility for classification as a professional member shall be available to any citizen or permanent resident of the United States who has a degree or extensive experience in advertising, graphic/illustration, photography, fashion, industrial, textile, interior, or architectural design, or a related design discipline and whose primary professional responsibility as a practitioner of products, instruments, apparel, equipment, packages, transportation, environments, information systems or related design services. Such members may carry membership cards bearing the designation Professional Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as a Professional Member shall be available to persons who have completed: An undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an accredited design program; or a four year college program with a major in technical training in design and two years of experience actively engaged in the profession, or Three years of design training at an accredited design school; or three years of college courses with a major in technical training in design and three years of experience actively engaged in the profession, or Individual actively engaged in the profession for a minimum of five years, dealing directly with the public provided such individual can show proper evidence of the highest degree of knowledge and professionalism required of designers by today s standards.
Professional members shall have full voting rights in governing the organization and may carry membership cards bearing the designation Professional Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as an intern professional member shall be available to any citizen or permanent resident of the United States who has a degree or extensive experience in advertising, graphic/illustration, photography, fashion, industrial, textile, interior, or architectural design, or a related design discipline and whose primary professional responsibility as an intern practitioner of products, instruments, apparel, equipment, packages, transportation, environments, information systems or related design services. Status for intern professional members is granted only for the first two years after completion of design degree. Such members may carry membership cards bearing the designation Intern Professional Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as an Intern Professional Member shall be available to persons who have completed no more than: Four years of design training at an accredited design school; or a four year college program with a major in technical training in design and two years of experience actively engaged in the profession, or Three years of design training in an accredited design school; or three years of college courses with a major in technical training in design and three years of experience actively engaged in the profession, or Individual actively engaged in the profession for a minimum of five years, dealing directly with the public provided such individual can show proper evidence of the highest degree of knowledge and professionalism required of designers by today s standards.
Intern Professional members shall have full voting rights in governing the organization and may carry membership cards bearing the designation Intern Professional Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as a corporate/trade associate member shall be available to firms, corporations, industry organizations and other corporate entities and/or their representatives doing business nationally, and/or internationally to include the following:
Firms any company engaged in the employ of designers and production of design work;
Manufacturers corporations which produce items through commercial design, selling on a non-retail basis;
Distributors corporations which import and/or convert items for resale to commercial designers and commercial dealers, selling on a non-retail basis.
Corporate/Trade members have no voting rights in governing the organization may use the designation Trade Associate Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as an educator associate member shall be available to any citizen or permanent resident of the United States who is engaged in the education of students in advertising, graphic/illustration, photography, fashion, industrial, textile, interior, or architectural design, or a related design discipline and whose primary professional responsibility as a design educator of products, instruments, apparel, equipment, packages, transportation, environments, information systems or related design services. Such members may carry membership cards bearing the designation Educator / Associate Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as an Educator Associate Member shall be available to persons who are affiliated with: colleges and universities, community colleges, technical schools and international programs. Educator Associate members shall have full voting rights in governing the organization and may carry membership cards bearing the designation Educator / Associate Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as a affiliate member shall be available to any editors, contributing editors and writers of design and the allied arts, freelance writers (both online and print media) as well as those employed in public relations, advertising or similar fields, who are actively involved in the design industry.
Affiliate members have no voting rights in governing the organization and may use the designation Affiliate Member OBD.
Eligibility for classification as a student member shall be available to design students presently enrolled in accredited colleges and universities, technical schools and design programs who are interested in pursing careers in the various fields of design. Student members must present a valid student identification card and enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit units at time of membership. Such members may carry membership cards bearing the designation Student Member OBD.
Student members have no voting rights in governing the organization and may use the designation Student Member OBD.
Want to know what s going on in the design universe? Check out the OBD calendar.
See what we ve been doing! Get a glimpse of activities and events from OBD chapters, members and the National Office. (partial listing)
Need a job? Want to explore a new career path? Check out the OBD Careers/Employment Job Bank. Members can search job postings, post resumes, update a profile and find helpful information and resources in building a successful design career.