Terms of Service

By accessing or using Amber Certified Designers ("Amber," "we," "us," or "our"), including our website at ambercertified.com, services, and membership platform operated by RateMyDesigner.com, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use our services. These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Amber Certified Designers / RateMyDesigner.com.

Amber provides a voluntary professional certification and directory service for designers. Certification is:

• A peer-reviewed credential based on subjective professional evaluation
• Not a license, accreditation, or legal credential
• Not a guarantee of employment, income, or professional success
• Subject to ongoing compliance with our standards

Applications are reviewed by certified Amber members at our sole discretion. We reserve the right to:

• Approve or deny any application without obligation to provide specific reasons
• Revoke certification at any time for violation of our standards
• Modify certification criteria and tiers at any time
• Limit the number of certified members

Denial of an application does not constitute a judgment on professional ability. Our reviewers evaluate fit with Amber's specific standards, which are inherently subjective.

• Founders Membership: First year free, then $99/3 years (rate locked for founders)
• Standard Membership: $99/3 years at the rate in effect at time of renewal
• Payments are non-refundable except as required by applicable law
• We reserve the right to change pricing with 90 days notice (founders rate remains locked)
• Failure to renew results in lapse of certification benefits and directory removal

As a member or applicant, you agree to:

• Provide truthful, accurate information in your application and profile
• Not misrepresent your skills, experience, or the nature of your work
• Not submit AI-generated work as your own human-created work
• Not share, transfer, or sell your Amber certification credentials
• Maintain professional conduct in all Amber community interactions
• Not use the Amber name, seal, or brand in a misleading manner

Amber recognizes that AI tools are part of modern design workflows. Our policy is:

• AI may be used as a tool in your creative process (research, brainstorming, iteration)
• AI-generated output must not constitute the final deliverable presented as your own work
• You must disclose your AI usage honestly in your application and profile
• Misrepresenting AI-generated work as human-created work is grounds for immediate certification revocation

• You retain all rights to your own creative work and portfolio materials
• By uploading content to Amber, you grant us a limited license to display it on our platform
• The Amber name, logo, certification seal, and brand materials are our property
• Certified members receive a limited, revocable license to use the Amber seal on their own materials

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Amber services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months prior to any claim
• We are not responsible for actions of third parties, including reviewers, clients, or other members
• We are not responsible for employment decisions made by any party based on Amber certification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Amber, its operators, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of our services, your violation of these terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of Amber services shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits against Amber.

We may suspend or terminate your account and certification at any time for violation of these terms or at our discretion. Upon termination, you must immediately cease using the Amber seal and certification credentials. Termination does not entitle you to a refund.

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated with 30 days notice. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

By creating an account or subscribing to our communications, you consent to receive electronic communications from us. These may include account notifications, certification status updates, platform announcements, and marketing emails. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time, but operational emails (account security, payment confirmations, terms updates) cannot be opted out of while your account is active.

By submitting any content to Amber (including but not limited to portfolio samples, profile descriptions, community posts, and application materials), you:

• Represent that you have the right to submit such content
• Grant Amber a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and distribute the content in connection with our services
• Acknowledge that content in public profiles is visible to anyone on the internet
• Accept sole responsibility for the accuracy and legality of your content
• Agree not to submit content that infringes on third-party intellectual property rights

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these terms without notice.

Nothing in these terms creates an employment relationship, joint venture, partnership, or agency relationship between you and Amber. Certified designers are independent professionals, not employees, contractors, or agents of Amber or RateMyDesigner.com. We do not control, direct, or supervise the work of certified designers.

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, civil unrest, cyber attacks, infrastructure failures, or third-party service outages.

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and Disclaimers, constitute the entire agreement between you and Amber regarding your use of our services. No prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications shall modify these terms unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Amber.

Amber Certified Designers is a program operated by RateMyDesigner.com. References to "Amber" in these terms include RateMyDesigner.com and its operators. The rights, protections, and limitations described herein apply equally to Amber and RateMyDesigner.com.

For questions about these terms, contact hello@ambercertified.com.