Senior practitioners
Already operating beyond individual execution.
Who it is for
Built for experienced practitioners.
Design managers and leads
Responsible for people, decisions or a design function.
Diaspora leaders
African practitioners leading design globally who want a professional connection back to the continent.
What members receive
Peer connection at a serious professional level.
Research access
Member access to Design Lever research, working findings and the annual African Design Leadership Report.
Practitioner gatherings
Small-format sessions, roundtables and conversations around the realities of leading design.
Peer network
Direct access to experienced designers managing teams, functions and senior design responsibilities across Africa and the diaspora.
Early access
First notice of Academy programmes, Network opportunities and Design Lever initiatives.
Contribute to the field
Take part in research, peer sessions, practitioner conversations and initiatives shaping the standard for design leadership in Africa.
The joining fee
A paid membership by design.
A paid model helps keep The Lever curated, independent and useful to the people in it. Membership is built for quality, not volume.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
₦100K
Billed annually. Academy participants receive their first year of membership at no cost, then renew at the standard annual rate.
Join a room built for your level of practice.
Membership is reviewed. The founding cohort of The Lever is now taking requests to join.
Request to joinFAQs
The Lever, answered.
Why is there a joining fee?+
The joining fee is a quality gate and a revenue stream at once. Members who pay to be here are invested in the community’s rigour, and the joining and renewal fees keep The Lever independent of any single transaction.
Is it free for Academy students?+
Yes. Every Academy student receives membership at no additional cost as part of enrolment.
Is there an annual membership fee?+
Yes. Membership costs ₦100K to join and ₦100K each year to renew. Renewal maintains access to the peer network, member gatherings, research, practitioner conversations and community opportunities.
What do members receive?+
Early access to the research evidence base and annual report, invitations to practitioner gatherings, genuine peer connection, and first notice of Academy and Network opportunities.
Who can join?+
Serious design practitioners who can demonstrate a commitment to design leadership. Membership is by request and reviewed.
Is this the same as joining the Talent Hub?+
No. Community membership is professional membership. Talent Hub listing is separately for hiring vetted design executives for fractional engagements.