New Zealand’s ever-growing design community becomes richer through connection, exploration and reflection. We aim to provide opportunities for our members to build strong networks both within and across disciplines; with industry leaders, experienced peers and the next generation studying design.

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As a professional body, our members are our most valuable asset. We support you by providing events, community initiatives, professional resources and more.

Member Benefits

Community

Benefits

Member (DINZ)
As a Member you will be able to use the appellation for your individual membership “DINZ” after your name on business cards and other communications collateral.

Professional Membership (PDINZ)
As a Member you are eligible to apply for Professional Membership (PDINZ)
As a Professional Member (PDINZ) you have voting rights, are eligible to stand for the Institutes Board, where you have the opportunity to make a difference to the ongoing development of New Zealand’s professional voice for designers.
As a PDINZ opportunity to give back and become part of the Mentorship Programme

Directory Showcase
As a Member you are listed on the website directory in the appropriate design sector along with your company website address
Members Access: You will have access to the Members Only pages of the website                                                                                             

Best Design Awards
Flickr Albums for Judging Week and Awards Night
Discounted entry for paid up Members.

Design Series Events 
Upcoming events
Flickr Albums of events
Discounted, and often free, tickets

Initiatives Pages
The Designers Institute runs many initiatives throughout the year to celebrate the achievements of the design community. 
D.Cast (podcasts)
DINZ Interviews
DINZ Design Series Videos
DINZ CheckIn
DINZ Competitions
Designer Jobs
DINZ Student Council
Best Design Awards Black Pins all Recipients
Purple Pin Case Studies

Resources
As the voice for New Zealand designers, we’re here to support you in whatever way we can. One useful resource is our collection of legal, business, insurance and contract documents, created by industry professionals to assist our members.

Contract Agreements
As a Member you have access to use our very comprehensive documents suite - contract agreements for each discipline, non disclosure agreements and procurement documents.

Legal, Insurance and Business Support
As a Member you are entitled to free, limited legal consultation, business and accounting consultation and Insurance packages tailored for your business:

Lane Neave (DINZ solicitors) offer a complimentary phone consultation on legal issues. (Please contact office@dinz.org.nz to arrange a consultation).

QUOTE on Lane Neave: Buster Caldwell DINZ 
Just want to extend a massive thank-you for the offering of legal advice for your design community. 
I have been liaising with James [DINZ Honorary Solcitor] today, and he has been nothing short of magnificent. It's incredible that this is a complimentary service, it really has made me appreciate the value of belonging to the community. 

Long Burroughs are the Designers Institutes insurance brokers and will help you manage risk, and are happy to discuss your current policy.

The D.Card
Friends don’t let friends pay retail. Reap the benefits of friendship thanks to some of New Zealand’s best design companies.
See below for details on how your loyalty can be rewarded with a friendly discount.

The D. Cube
All members of The Designers Institute are recognised with a Green Cube, a symbol of belonging and a commitment to celebrating and advancing New Zealand design.

  • Every Member receives a Green D. Cube.
  • Professional Members who have been peer reviewed and have earned the right to a White D. Cube.
  • Fellows not only have a Green and White but also receive a Black D. Cube for their contribution to DINZ

Mentorship Programme
You may apply for mentorship, or, as a PDINZ or FDINZ offer to give back as a mentor.

homestyle Magazine
Spatial Members receive a complimentary homestyle magazines Best Design Awards issue.

Social Media:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
X
Pinterest

D. Card

Community

Membership Card

One of the most appreciated DINZ membership benefits, is the D.Card, which provides you with a generous discount at some of New Zealand's best design companies.

Buy a few things (or even just one thing) from our friends below and your membership will have paid for itself.

  • noho

    noho

    10% Discount

    An offshoot of world-leading, NZ design studio Formway, noho is an online direct-to-consumer brand redefining 'design for people & planet' by creating Life Enriching Furniture™ that's beautiful, versatile, and built to last a lifetime. Designed and manufactured in Aotearoa from up-cycled waste plastic (fishing nets & end-of-life carpet), the transformational noho move™ chair is the debut product from noho. 

    noho offers DINZ D.Card Friends 10% discount on noho move chairs and chair toppers. To receive this discount, DINZ Members should purchase their chair online via www.nz.noho.co and enter and click 'apply' the discount code: dinz10 in the 'Discount code or gift card' box on the check-out and payment page.

    Website

  • Resene

    Resene

    Designer Discount

    Enjoy designer discounts at all Resene owned ColorShops throughout New Zealand for you to use on your own home or bach. Discounts are available on quality Resene paints, wood stains, primers/sealers, wallpaper and decorating accessories. Present a valid D. Card to Resene ColorShop staff when you purchase (along with your photo ID). You can order free drawdown swatches by registering as an approved specifier on the Resene website.

    www.resene.co.nz/drawdowns or you can go to www.resene.co.nz/colorshops to find the nearest store

    Website

  • ECC Limited

    ECC Limited

    10% Discount off RRP.

    ECC represents the world's leading lighting and furniture brands and brings these exclusively to New Zealand. We continually search the world for innovative designs and solutions to meet increasingly complex lighting and design requirements. Present your D. Card at our Auckland or Wellington showrooms. Some product exclusions apply.

    Website

  • homestyle

    homestyle

    20% Discount on subscriptions

    homestyle shares modern ways to make a life at home - and that begins with the best in residential and spatial design. And through profiling up-and-coming artists, designers and creatives, homestyle publishes fresh and original editorial that inspires and an urban, design-minded reader. Contact Nick Burrowes.

    Website

  • Fisher & Paykel

    Fisher & Paykel

    Designer Discount

    Contact Nick Thompson to purchase your personal Fisher & Paykel appliances or DCS Grills at attractively discounted D. Card holder rates. Quote your D. Card membership number and email Nick Thompson.

    Website

  • GWA Group - Methven, Caroma, Dorf and Clark

    GWA Group - Methven, Caroma, Dorf and Clark

    Designer Discount

    At GWA Group - Methven, Caroma, Dorf and Clark we are all about making water amazing. An exclusive designer discount is available on selected GWA Group products and discount vary depending on product.

    Contact the following for more information

    Paul Woodhams- Auckland and North
    Fiona Sutherland - Waikato, Central and Bay of Plenty
    Paul Golder - Wellington and Lower North Island 
    Leanne Foote - South Island 

    Website

  • Tim Webber Design

    Tim Webber Design

    10% Discount

    Tim Webber Design studio has gained international exposure through for its furniture and accessories. Tim has also won the Design Folio Incubator award including a trip to Milan, and has been a finalist in the HOME NZ Awards and the Best Awards.

    Website

  • Goldsworthy

    Goldsworthy

    10% Discount

    Nathan Goldsworthy designs furniture. He makes some of it too. The studio produces both commissioned and production pieces characterised by strong conceptual imagery and beautiful utility. Goldsworthy pieces are sold by selected stores and partners in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Email the Goldsworthy studio for more information.

    Website

  • Simon James Design

    Simon James Design

    10% Discount

    Simon James Design is a New Zealand based company committed to developing and manufacturing innovative contemporary furniture and lighting for both the residential and commercial market. Some product exclusions apply.

    Website

  • IMO

    IMO

    10% Discount

    IMO are designers and manufacturers of world-class commercial and residential furniture. IMO offer a 10% Discount for D. Card holders. Some product exclusions apply.

    Website

  • Designtree

    Designtree

    10% Discount

    At Designtree we're all about producing lighting and furniture of the highest quality which is designed to be loved for a long time.  We offer a 10% discount for D. Card holders on most of our products.

    Website

  • Refold

    Refold

    15% Discount

    Flexible, foldable, portable, affordable & 100% recyclable. Refold’s cardboard standing desks let you change how you work. Designed and made in Wellington, NZ. Email DINZ to verify your membership and receive a discount code. Enter the code during checkout to receive 15% off your purchase.

    Website

  • PLN Group

    PLN Group

    10% Discount

    As one of the fastest-growing design research and innovation groups in New Zealand, PLN Group aims to make life through better through original thought and design. Research, design and innovation are used to create powerful, award-winning solutions that enhance products, spaces and life. Products are proudly New Zealand designed and made and are sold globally including the United States, Australia, China and Middle East.

    Website

All members of The Designers Institute are recognised with a Green Cube, a symbol of belonging and a commitment to celebrating and advancing New Zealand design.

No matter where you are in your design career —student, recent graduate, educator or seasoned professional — there’s a membership level for you.

Member

Since 1991, The Designers Institute has been a community of creative thinkers and doers. Each and every one of us cares deeply about design and its power to transform. It’s not just a thing we do, it’s a way of life, and we’re proud of it.

All members of The Designers Institute are recognised with a Green Cube, a symbol of belonging and a commitment to celebrating and advancing New Zealand design.

Student
Any student participating in a fulltime design-related course, who’s not yet practising as a designer.

Graduate
A newly-graduated practising designer. This applies for up to three years before you must upgrade to become a Member (DINZ).

Member
Any designer practising in a design sector the Institute represents. A Member (DINZ) is eligible to apply for Professional (PDINZ) membership if they have been practising for a minimum of five years.

Professional

An existing Member (DINZ) who has gained up to five years experience as a practising designer and attained a high level of professional competency in their design sector. A Professional Peer Review must be carried out by a selected panel to acknowledge this Professional Membership (PDINZ). Contact or 09 529 1713 with any enquiries.

Fellow

A select few individuals are awarded the title of Fellow.
A Professional Member can be made a Fellow of The Designers Institute if they have given especially meritorious or distinguished service to the Institute or the design profession.

Join the Club

No matter where you are in your design career — student, recent graduate, educator or seasoned professional — there’s a membership level for you.

Select Membership Type

DINZ Member — Annual Membership

$0 p.a. GST Inc. New members pay $0 now, and renew on April 1. Returning members are required to pay the full year’s fee. New members pay $0 , then $ per month starting April 1.

Payment

Renew your Membership

Enter your email address below, and we’ll send you an email with instructions on how to renew your membership.

Enter your email address

Peer to Pair Mentorship Programme

At DINZ we’re about helping make connections to better our industry. We figure if we chat, discuss and share our collective knowledge we’ll help our design community thrive.

That’s why we’re relaunching our mentorship programme and we’d love you to be a part of it.

Mentees:
The programme is open to all DINZ Members - we’ll pair you up with a Mentor who’s been carefully selected by our DINZ representatives. You will also generate new industry connections by being part of our creative community.

A mentorship is for anyone for any reason. What’s yours?

Due to a resounding response applications are closed until 30th June so we can pair to a peer those currently applied.

DINZ Student Members: 
Prepare yourself for employment in the best possible way.

  • Hone your portfolio
  • Understand how to prepare to be employable and work-ready
  • Help develop self-presentation skills to best represent you and your ambitions
  • Managing freelance work, from cash flow to client contracts
  • Find guidance that will help you grow personally and professionally

  • Keep motivated and inspired throughout the year

Recent Graduates:
Get fresh advice from industry peers

  • Advice on how to keep your career momentum going
  • Advice on what you could add to your skill set to enhance future employability
  • Managing freelance work, from cash flow to client contracts
  • Find guidance that will help you grow personally and professionally

Practicing Designers:

  • Find a sounding board for those everyday challenges
  • Advice if you’re wanting to grow your business
  • Advice around future thinking skills
  • Advice on DINZ professional services e.g. client contracts, insurance and financial business management

Mentors: The programme aims to encourage professional development and community awareness as part of your role within our Institute.

TOGETHER WE’RE BUILDING THE BEST DESIGN COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD - we’ll be stronger if we share our skills and knowledge with each other.