AIGA Design Leader Certification (AIGA DL)
The AIGA Professional Design Certification program represents a commitment to the design profession and to lifelong learning. This certification is geared towards professionals with at least seven years of professional design experience, who are currently in—or aspire to enter—management or leadership positions.
About the AIGA Design Leader Certificate
To be eligible for the AIGA DL Certification, an applicant must have at least seven years of professional experience in design and are currently in–or have a desire to enter–management and leadership positions.
As an AIGA Certified Design Leader, you will:
- Differentiate yourself in a competitive marketplace for job opportunities and clients
- Receive the AIGA Certified Design Leader distinction and badge
- Help create accountability and professional standards for design
- Commit to your craft and professional practice
To earn the AIGA Design Leader Certification, there are three steps:
Step 1
Knowledge/learning assessment via AIGA Professional Design Foundations Certificate which includes both a learning and assessment component to test design knowledge in four core areas:
- Standards of Professional Practice
- Business for Designers
- Law for Designers
- Design Foundations
Step 2
Professional practice assessment via AIGA Professional Portfolio Assessment, which is conducted in-person twice annually.
Eligibility criteria: At least seven years of professional experience in design
Step 3
An ongoing commitment to learning and to AIGA standards of professional practice and code of conduct demonstrated in professional development.
Price
AIGA Professional Foundations Certificate
AIGA member: $579
Non member: $799
AIGA Professional Foundations Certificate + Portfolio Assessment (Full Certification)
AIGA member: $2,499
Non member: $3,249
Explore the AIGA-DL Certification
Included in your enrollment
- AIGA Professional Design Foundations Certificate
- AIGA Professional Portfolio Assessment
- 3 nights of accommodation at the event location
- 12 hours of in-person leadership training in an intimate setting
- AIGA Certified Design Leader distinction and badge upon passing the AIGA Professional Portfolio Assessment
AIGA Design Leader (AIGA DL) Professional Portfolio Assessments happen twice annually:
- At the annual AIGA Executive Leadership Conference
- At the annual AIGA Design Conference
When committing to the AIGA Design Leader (DL) Certification, you are committing to an in-person portfolio assessment which takes place at one of the two events above in front of a panel of assessors. You may select which dates are better suited to your schedule at the time of enrollment.
Eligibility criteria:
- At least seven years of professional experience in design
Deadlines to apply:
In 2023, our pilot year, the assessments (AIGA DL) will be conducted in-person during AIGA conferences in March (AIGA Executive Leadership Summit from March 12-14, 2023) and October (AIGA Design Conference from October 12-14, 2023).
March Portfolio Assessment: In-Person
- Deadline to pay by January 30 (or until spots filled)
- Deadline to submit documentation by February 20
October Portfolio Assessment: In-Person
- Deadline to pay by August 31 (or until spots filled)
- Deadline to submit documentation by September 21
Commit to your practice
Apply for the AIGA Design Leader Certification today!
