The Association of Sound Designers,[1] also known as the ASD, is a British charity[2] representing a large proportion of the British theatrical sound engineering community.
In December 2009, Gregg Fisher organised a series of meetings with a small group of sound designers[3] to start discussing the formation of an association for sound designers. This group of sound designers formed a steering committee and began discussing what such an organisation should do and how it might exist. The steering committee consisted of: Gareth Fry, Gareth Owen, Paul Arditti, Ian Dickinson, Carolyn Downing, John Leonard, Nela Brown, Steven Brown, Gregg Fisher, David McSeveney, and Christopher Shutt.[4] From this steering committee, the Association of Sound Designers was born, helmed by chairman Gareth Fry.[5]
The association is currently active in supporting the mental health of its members,[6] as well as helping the theatre industry reboot itself after the Covid pandemic. They are involved in the Sunday Times National Student Drama Festival as a supporter of the Outstanding Contribution to the Technical Team Award.[7] The ASD also provide extensive resources to support new and upcoming sound designers,[8] as well as working hard for inclusivity in the theatre industry.[9] In 2014 they were active in pressurising the American Tony committee to reinstate the Tony Award for Sound Design.[10]