The designer-vetted
credential.
For professional designers who want to prove it. Amber is the industry's first peer-reviewed certification -where real designers vouch for your craft, process, and delivery.
Not a portfolio site. Not a self-assessment. A credential earned through honest peer review by working professionals in your discipline.
First year free ($99 value) · Limited founders spots · Mentorship included
From application to credential
in four steps
The process is intentionally rigorous -because a credential that anyone can get means nothing. Here is exactly what happens when you apply.
Apply with your real work
Submit your application with examples of your process, thinking, and client work. No generic portfolios -we want to see how you solve problems.
Peer review by certified designers
Working professionals in your discipline review your application. They evaluate craft, process, delivery, and client relationships -not follower counts.
Earn your Amber credential
If approved, you receive your certification tier (Associate, Certified, or Master), your public directory listing, and the Amber seal for your materials.
Grow with the community
Access mentorship opportunities, the designer community, and profile analytics. Your credential signals trust to clients and studios who find you.
Our review process is transparent
Every application is reviewed by at least two certified Amber designers who actively work in your discipline. They are not recruiters, HR teams, or algorithms -they are professionals who do the work every day and know what good looks like.
- Reviewers must hold Certified or Master tier
- Each application is reviewed by 2+ designers in your discipline
- Decisions are based on craft, process, and delivery quality
- Average review time: 5-10 business days
- Rejected applicants receive written feedback
What reviewers look for
- Quality and consistency of visual output
- Evidence of a repeatable creative process
- Client collaboration and delivery skills
- Thoughtful use of tools (including AI, if applicable)
- Professional presentation and communication
Not ready yet? No problem.
Our apprenticeship program pairs you with a certified mentor who helps you build the skills and portfolio needed for a successful application.
The credential the design world has been waiting for.
As AI floods creative markets with generated imagery and hollow executions, clients are losing trust. Amber is the answer -a rigorous, community-driven certification that proves you are the real thing.
We welcome designers who use AI as a tool -the way we use Figma, Photoshop, or a printer. What matters is that your thinking, vision, and relationships are irreplaceable by a prompt.
Amber Certification is the professional credential program from RateMyDesigner.com — the platform where clients find verified freelance design talent.
The Amber Standard
"Not what you made. How you think, create, and deliver."
Designer-Vetted
Applications are reviewed by verified Amber members -real designers who know what great work looks like. No algorithms. No automated scoring. Human eyes on your craft.
Trusted by Clients
When clients see the Amber seal, they know this designer has been independently vetted by their peers. It cuts through noise and shortens the trust gap in every proposal.
Community Standard
Amber means a real human designer -not an AI wrapper -built something intentional. Studios use it to filter hires. Clients use it to shortlist freelancers.
Print & Digital designers.
Amber certification criteria are tailored to each discipline. Whether you work in ink or pixels, your reviewers understand what great looks like in your medium.
Print Design
Brand, layout, packaging, editorial, and production design built for the physical world.
Digital Design
Interfaces, experiences, web, motion, and platform-native design for screens.
Three tiers. One truth.
Each level requires real review by certified Amber designers who work in your discipline. No shortcut. No subscription trick. Earned.
Amber Associate
1–3 years experience
For emerging designers who have demonstrated real craft, client delivery, and intentional creative practice.
- ▸Client or employer delivery history
- ▸Demonstrable design process
- ▸Understanding of design fundamentals
- ▸Professional communication and accountability
Amber Certified
3–7 years experience
For experienced designers with a proven track record of quality, independent thought, and professional excellence.
- ▸Established client or studio experience
- ▸Demonstrated specialization and depth
- ▸Peer and client reputation
- ▸Consistent quality across project types
Amber Master
7+ years experience
The pinnacle of Amber certification -reserved for designers who have shaped the craft, mentored others, and left a lasting mark.
- ▸Significant industry contribution
- ▸Mentorship or teaching history
- ▸Thought leadership or published work
- ▸Reviewed by a panel of Amber Masters
AI as a tool -yes. AI as the deliverable -no.
Amber designers may use AI to accelerate their process. What they cannot do is submit AI-generated work as their own. The creative vision, direction, and final execution must be human-led.
Mentorship built into every tier
Associates can apprentice under certified designers. Certified members qualify to become mentors. Masters get mentor status automatically. Every tier has a path to grow -and a path to give back.
Learn from the certified.
Amber is more than a badge -it's a community that grows together. Certified designers mentor the next wave. Aspiring designers apprentice under proven professionals. Everyone levels up.
Become a Mentor
Earn cash by mentoring designers
Once you reach Amber Certified or Amber Master status, you qualify to mentor the next generation. Share your experience, grow your reputation, and get paid while doing what you already love.
- Active Amber Certified or Amber Master status required
- Complete the Amber Mentor workshop (included free)
- Set your own schedule and availability
- Get paid directly by your mentees
Apprenticeship Track
For aspiring designers & Associates
Pair with a certified Amber mentor for structured, hands-on guidance. Apprenticeships run in 3-month cycles with clear milestones -designed to accelerate your path toward certification.
- Open to any registered Amber member (no certification required)
- Structured 3-month cycles with clear milestones
- Hands-on portfolio review and real-world assignments
- Mentor recommendation strengthens certification applications
How the apprenticeship cycle works
Month 1
Goal-setting, portfolio review, and initial skill assessment with your mentor.
Month 2
Hands-on project work with weekly feedback sessions and real-world assignments.
Month 3
Final deliverable, mentor assessment, and recommendation for certification tier.
Human-Only Review
Every application read by certified designers
SSL Encrypted
Your data is secure and never sold
US-Based Company
Backed by ProdXLab & RateMyDesigner
Join early.
Shape the standard.
We just launched -and the first wave of Amber members will shape the community. Join as a Founder and your first year is entirely free -no credit card, no catch. After that, membership is $99 for 3 years. Founders lock that rate forever, even as we grow.
- First year membership at no cost -a $99 value
- Amber Founders badge on your certified profile
- Priority review queue -among the first certified
- Lifetime rate lock: renew at $99/3 years forever
- Access to the private Amber designer community
- Early access to the Amber directory and job board
- Input on shaping the certification criteria
Stay in the loop
Get notified when new certified designers join the directory, mentorship spots open, and new resources drop. No spam -just updates that matter.