What do you think of the UKWDA? Is it worth a membership? Or are they out-dated?

 

The UK Web Design Association was established in 2001 to encourage and promote industry standards within the British web design and new media sector. The UKWDA is the largest internet association in Europe and now has 9794 members.

 

I don't find them particularly relevant - normally when I see a badge for them on a website it can (not always) take my estimation down a little. I feel them bordering on the same respect level as "Golden Web Awards" !

 

Or have I mis-seen the UKWDA? Beside a directory, what do they actually do?

 

I know where your coming from on this Ben, they have a link "Looking for a web designer...search our directory".. thing is, people looking for web designers are not going to goto ukwda.org - they are going to goto google, search for designers in their area and go from there. I guess being a part of an association like this allows you to network with each other, but for myself, it's not on the top of my priority list of joining, just yet..I will need to do more research into it's benefits... Do you know of any?

 

Thanks for the link i'll look into it.

I registered with them years ago - just because I thought I should. It's done nothing for me - but clients who aren't really into the web or techy stuff see it as some some of acreditation [if that's the right word]. So I keep it on my sight just to please folk like that. I don't see any other benefits to be honest.

but clients who aren't really into the web or techy stuff see it as some some of acreditation [if that's the right word]. So I keep it on my sight just to please folk like that. I don't see any other benefits to be honest.

 

Actually that might be a really good indirect benefit - I hadn't considered that before!

A double post for me, tut tut

 

I've just remember the other site I'd seen - http://www.gawds.org/ - The Guild of Accessible Web Designers.

 

The Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS) is a worldwide association of professional organisations, web designers and developers working together to promote the use and preservation of accessible design standards.

 

Also has a members directory, but has a one-off joining fee. However, every application is checked for standards so it's different from UKWDA in that respect, and seems to have a community feel rather than business feel.

Thanks for the link Ben, "The Guild of Accessible Web Designers." - Hearing Guild always reminds me of some medieval times with huge banquet halls and suits of armour etc. Though i'm sure this is quite far from the truth!

 

It's always nice to have a look at these sites to see what the benefits are (and importantly the price).

 

Thanks.

I looked into GAWDS a while back, as I thought it would be a beneficial stanp of recognition as Accessibility is something I became quite a guru about when I was working for a company in Edinburgh. The fact that you're checked out by them and the sites you've done tested for accesibility [up to level 2] and valid code is brilliant. I was put off a bit by the price, but mostly scared I wouldn't pass their rigorous testing. I'm going to try and improve the accessibility of my website and try and convert it to XHTML Strict and once I've done that I'm thinking of joining them.

I looked into GAWDS a while back, as I thought it would be a beneficial stanp of recognition as Accessibility is something I became quite a guru about when I was working for a company in Edinburgh. The fact that you're checked out by them and the sites you've done tested for accesibility [up to level 2] and valid code is brilliant. I was put off a bit by the price, but mostly scared I wouldn't pass their rigorous testing. I'm going to try and improve the accessibility of my website and try and convert it to XHTML Strict and once I've done that I'm thinking of joining them.

 

Yup, exactly the same as me! The price IIRC have changed from an Annual fee to a one-off membership fee of £39, me thinks!

 

Once I'm all strict (oo-er!), I'd think about it too!

 

@Ben - I still think of a Monty Python-esqe Banquet room with "knights of neeee"!

your better off using GAF or ScriptLance my friend.

your better off using GAF or ScriptLance my friend.

 

I don't understand your post, could you clarify it please?

UKWDA don't exist anymore in spite of the website. They set out to have grand plans as an industry forum for the UK and failed to deliver anything. Many web designers signed up for the badge alone, as Eskymo says it pleases some clients. Reality is they are not worth anything. Plus you can't actually join! The membership forms gets sent to a redundant email address.

 

If you want to be a member of a properly accredited forum or society you could choose wither GAWDS or Web Standards Group. Both are active and well-supported organisations that actually stand for something. The key is in who else is a member. Looking down the list of GAWDS members you have some real big hitters in the web world: Gez Lemon, Mike Cherim or Joe Dolson.

UKWDA don't exist anymore in spite of the website. They set out to have grand plans as an industry forum for the UK and failed to deliver anything. Many web designers signed up for the badge alone, as Eskymo says it pleases some clients. Reality is they are not worth anything. Plus you can't actually join! The membership forms gets sent to a redundant email address.

 

If you want to be a member of a properly accredited forum or society you could choose wither GAWDS or Web Standards Group. Both are active and well-supported organisations that actually stand for something. The key is in who else is a member. Looking down the list of GAWDS members you have some real big hitters in the web world: Gez Lemon, Mike Cherim or Joe Dolson.

 

I thought they mustn't be in business anymore. I applied to be a member a while ago and never heard anything back.

UKWDA don't exist anymore in spite of the website. They set out to have grand plans as an industry forum for the UK and failed to deliver anything. Many web designers signed up for the badge alone, as Eskymo says it pleases some clients. Reality is they are not worth anything. Plus you can't actually join! The membership forms gets sent to a redundant email address.

 

If you want to be a member of a properly accredited forum or society you could choose wither GAWDS or Web Standards Group. Both are active and well-supported organisations that actually stand for something. The key is in who else is a member. Looking down the list of GAWDS members you have some real big hitters in the web world: Gez Lemon, Mike Cherim or Joe Dolson.

 

That's some good info you got there. Thanks for sharing.

I better remove my UKWDA badge from my website then...just looking at the criteria for GAWDS and seeing if I qualify.

yikes - I just applied...got to wait now to receive info from them on whether or not I get in. If I don't qualify, I hope they exp-lain in detail why not...so that I can fix things and apply again.

Good Luck! It's something I'm tempted to do once I've got a couple of solid accessible projects. Let us know how you get on!

Forget the BWDA or whatever, this is much better news:

http://www.bsi-global.com/en/About-BSI/New...gement/PAS-124/

You'll have to keep us posted on how you get on Eskymo. Good luck with it.

I failed misrably! But the great thing is that they sent me a really detailed email pointing out every single error in my site and if I manage to mend my ways and fix things within a month they will reconsider my application. I didn't realise there was so much wrong with my site...but at least I now know how to make it loads better and pass their very thorough tests.

I failed misrably! But the great thing is that they sent me a really detailed email pointing out every single error in my site and if I manage to mend my ways and fix things within a month they will reconsider my application. I didn't realise there was so much wrong with my site...but at least I now know how to make it loads better and pass their very thorough tests.

 

That is really really nice! (Well, not the failing bit - but the email ) It's nice because now you've had personal feedback, you know how to 'improve' as a designer, so it's win-win for everyone.

 

Thank you for letting us know!

Even better - I wrote back thanking for the detailed email as it gave me a goal to work towards and they emailed back saying this about my site:

 

It's a nice site and I think, if you can correct some of the problems, it will turn it into a great site. It was obvious to me, when checking through the site, that it's been developed carefully and it's already in a far better state than many of the application reference sites I see on a regular basis. I'd estimate that about 50% of all Guild applications are rejected almost immediately and another 25% or don't even attempt to make any necessary changes.

 

So it's a pleasant change to have an application from someone like yourself who obviously does care about these small but very important details. :-)

 

How nice is that...definitely - I'm chuffed...but will be even more chuffed if I pass the next time I re-apply.