Designers Subsector
Are you a graphic designer, illustrator, or typographer? Or do you commission designers? Then it is important to consider fair pay. What is appropriate compensation for the work designers do, and what conditions should apply? To ensure these professionals receive what they deserve, fairPACCT convened the Designers chain table. This chain table is no longer active, but it has produced several resources.
Designers deserve better
Designers work for a wide variety of clients: from cultural institutions to municipalities, and from publishers to event organizers. This diversity makes it challenging to determine a fair rate. Do you charge per hour or per project? Are revisions included? Who covers the costs of font licenses and software?
Many freelance designers struggle with these questions. They invest significant time in quotes, consultations, and correction rounds that are not always compensated. At the same time, they incur substantial costs for equipment, software, and professional development. How do we ensure they receive fair payment? This question is central to the Designers chain table.
About the chain table
Please note: This chain table is no longer active, but we are currently exploring a relaunch of the table. The chain table was established in June 2022.
An exploratory study was launched in collaboration with the Creative Industries Fund NL. Since existing knowledge was primarily focused on the subsidized and cultural segments of the sector, a preliminary phase was established first. Researcher Martijn Arnoldus from Social Finance Matters compiled factsheets on regulations, rate structures, and professional practices. These were presented under the title Design your own rate during a session at Dutch Design Week and were well received.
In parallel, a supervisory committee—comprising independent designers, agencies, clients, educational professionals, and industry experts—met twice. Their advice: approach the chain table as a design process. This recommendation was implemented. Social design agency Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken (A/BZ) from Rotterdam developed three prototypes for practical tools and organized a workshop with approximately 25 (mostly early-career) designers at Dutch Design Week. This input, supplemented by on-site interviews, now serves as the starting point for the further approach. BNO, the professional organization for designers, will also play a significant role in this process.
Tools & downloads
Preliminary research
Preliminary and background research typically maps out the current state of affairs within a subsector. These studies, commissioned by Platform ACCT, serve as a guide for determining the most urgent matters for the chain table.