Our Shout Out Policy

We receive daily requests for free shout outs and promotional inclusions across our ecosystem. To ensure fairness and equity, we have developed this policy.

Our Purpose

The Design Kids (TDK) exists to support emerging designers, creative communities, and the broader design ecosystem. We believe in amplifying voices and initiatives that strengthen creative connection and opportunity.

To remain sustainable and fair, we’ve established a transparent approach to shout-outs, EDM inclusions, and other promotional requests — all guided by the following principles:

Community First: We prioritise community-led, educational, and grassroots initiatives that directly support designers, students, and creative inclusion.

Fair Value Exchange: If an organisation, brand, or funded initiative benefits commercially or through sponsorship, we believe in a fair contribution to support our platform and team.

Transparency and Equity: Our approach ensures everyone — from students to studios — understands how we make decisions and why.

Free Shout Outs

We offer free promotion (via social, EDMs, or community spaces) for initiatives that meet all of the following criteria:

Run by volunteers, students, or independent creatives.
Not-for-profit, not backed by corporate or private funding.
Free or low-cost to attend (covering only essential expenses).
Clearly benefits the creative community — such as open calls, exhibitions, mentoring opportunities, or student showcases.

Examples:

Local community exhibitions
Volunteer-run creative meetups
Student-led design events
Unfunded grassroots projects
Online or IRL grassroots communities

What's Paid?

If your initiative has funding, sponsorship, or paid staff, or is connected to a brand or organisation, we ask that you book a paid promotional placement.

This applies to:

Corporates, brands, agencies, or studios with paid teams.
Nonprofits or institutions with grant, sponsorship, corporate or donor support.
Events or campaigns that generate revenue, brand visibility, or lead generation.

Examples:

Brand campaigns, product launches, or competitions
Nonprofit initiatives backed by a single corporate entity
Paid design festivals or conferences
Government or university recruitment campaigns
Sponsored creative programs or scholarships

Our Goal and Why

Our goal is to keep TDK accessible to everyone while ensuring the sustainability of the community we’ve built.

This policy allows us to:

Keep supporting grassroots creativity without barriers to entry.
Compensate our team of global City Hosts fairly.
Continue investing in global opportunities for emerging designers.
Develop a creative industry built on fairness, integrity, and shared value.