What is Amber Certified?
Amber Certified is an independent credential that verifies a designer is a real, living human — not an AI persona, bot account, or fabricated profile. It is issued by Amber Certified, a third-party organization entirely separate from RateMyDesigner.
The Amber Certified Badge
When you see the Amber Certified mark on a RateMyDesigner profile, it means the designer has passed independent human verification. Their identity, professional credentials, and portfolio were reviewed by a real person — not an algorithm.
Why This Matters
The design industry is uniquely vulnerable to AI-generated fraud. Here's what's at stake.
AI-Generated Personas Are Real
The design industry has seen a surge of AI-generated fake designers — complete with synthetic portfolios, generated headshots, and fabricated work histories. Clients and hiring managers are being deceived.
Real Designers Lose Work
When imposters flood the market, qualified human designers lose opportunities to fake profiles that appear credible. Amber Certified helps legitimate talent stand out.
Clients Need Confidence
Hiring the wrong designer — or an outright fake — wastes budget and damages projects. The badge gives clients a fast, reliable signal before engaging.
Reviews Mean More
A verified designer's reviews carry more weight. When you know the profile is real, the ratings become a trustworthy signal rather than potentially fabricated feedback.
How Verification Works
The process is handled entirely by Amber Certified. RateMyDesigner only displays the result.
Identity Submission
The designer submits verified identity documentation to Amber Certified — a government-issued ID, professional license, or equivalent credential.
Independent Review
Amber Certified's team, separate from RateMyDesigner, manually reviews the submission and cross-references publicly available professional records.
Human Confirmation
A live verification call or portfolio walkthrough confirms the person behind the account matches the submitted credentials.
Badge Issued
Once verified, the Amber Certified badge is granted and synced to the designer's RateMyDesigner profile. It is renewed annually.
Important Disclaimer
The Amber Certified badge indicates that an independent third party has verified the identity of the designer at the time of certification. RateMyDesigner does not control, conduct, or guarantee the Amber Certified verification process. Certification does not imply an endorsement of the designer's quality of work or character — only that their identity was verified. Amber Certified badges are renewed annually; expiry does not reflect negatively on the designer.
Are you a designer?
Getting certified sets you apart from unclaimed and unverified profiles. Stand out in search, build trust with clients, and prove you're the real deal.