How ethical are your design practices?
Do you work with a client whose product or values you don’t agree with? If, for example, you’re anti-smoking, would you take on Marlboro as a design client?
Lee Newham, branding expert and regular reader, gave this answer:
If I was financially secure, and if I felt strongly about it, no, I wouldn’t take the client.
If I wasn’t busy and needed the money, I would think about it …within reason.
Regarding cigarettes, I dont think the design of a cigarette pack encourages people to smoke. It only encourages people who already smoke to buy different cigarette brands. Over 50% of the front of cigarette packaging says this product will kill you. If someone doesnt get that message, quite frankly, they are beyond help.
Alcohol causes much more problems than cigarettes, and I have designed lots of alcohol packaging. Where do you draw the line?
Where indeed do you draw the line? Can you allow your ethics to leave you struggling for income?
When starting out as a graphic designer, I believe it can be necessary to put ethics to one side (within reason) in order to build a solid portfolio and a reputation for excellent work. Once your portfolio shows your capabilities, you’ve built up a client list, and you have a steadier income, that’s when you can afford to be more choosey about who your design clients are.
If, at the beginning, you feel bad for working with a cause you don’t support, you can always balance the scales by providing a service for local non-profit organisations, and giving a little back to the community.
On the other hand, however, I strongly don’t believe in how the fashion industry is twisting reality, but whether I’m struggling for cash or not, if I was approached by a fashion model to launch a porfolio site, I don’t think I’d have many sleepless nights over it.
Thankfully, my ethics haven’t been tested too much throughout my fledgling design career, so I’d love to know your thoughts on this, and if you have a difference of opinion.
How much do ethics affect your design practices?
If you didn’t believe in what a client was offering, would you simply rule out a working relationship? Would you think about it first or does it all depend on your current income? How responsible is your graphic design?
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33 spot-on reader comments to “How ethical are your design practices?”
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I have a very recent example. In my freelance world, I have been working closely with a design/production company, helping them out. I had done a good number of jobs for them. We built up a great relationship. Then I was asked to do a job, a media guide, that contained an ad for some “adult” store, which I could not be associated with.
I politely told them that I would be unable to take this job for these specific reasons, and a laid it out. I also stated that I would like to continue to work with them, but that I could not have my name associated with that sort of thing (not in those exact words; that’s just more the gist of it).
They told me that was not a problem. They still want to work with me. They clarified that they rarely have these sorts of ads in their jobs, but there are some. They then sent me other work. Now, this is a little different case because this “client” of mine is another design company that has a lot of work coming in, so I am not in fear of losing the income. But there is a relationship there. And that is actually the only time in all the designing I’ve done where my ethics were challenged to some level.
Interesting question. I don’t believe one should ever put their ethics to one side. Why have them in the first place? Are they still ethics if you ignore them for financial gain? When I moved to Chicago several years ago, I was approached for a possible position at Leo Burnett (not as a designer of course, as an account manager type person), but the only catch was that it would be working with a cigarette manufacturer. It was rather tempting to say the least, as I really needed a job, but I would have been much too uncomfortable to even consider it.
It’s not that I don’t understand when people get in a hard spot and really need the work. That can be extremely stressful and difficult. It would be the easy road to put ethics aside. But, the easy road is not always the right one.
This is a good question and I completly agree with Randa Clay. We have to look it at a wider angle. This is a question about Character, pesonality and about Life. Its simple, no one can walk on the wrong path and become good.
Ethics does not exist or are not created for our convenience to use it or not. As a human, once we put ethics aside for our gain we will always have the temptation to fall back. Sure we will have another justification for that. The list goes on…
I repeat Randa’s statement… “the easy road is not always the right one.”!
At the beginning of my web design career I was approached to design an adult website, and I of course, refused. I desperately needed work and money, but I’ll never ever design porno sites.
So I guess it all depends on what the client project is all about. I’d never build a site that goes against my principles, say sites that promote violence or support wars.
Thanks for your input. The fact that you were able to build a great relationship with that particular client helped your cause, which says good things about your design practices.
Randa,
Good to get your take on this. There are some jobs I couldn’t take on, no matter what my financial position, which is why I typed ‘within reason’ in my post. For instance, if I was in your position when Leo Burnett came calling, I don’t think I could work with cigarette manufacturers either. There’s so much corruption and death in that industry that I’d feel too bad.
However, my example of the fashion industry is less clear cut for me. The international profiles of wafer thin models does a lot of physical and mental harm to those trying to emulate their looks. I’m against how the fashion industry portray skinny women as almost idyllic, neglecting the millions of beautiful women who pack a few more pounds. At the same time, does that mean I’m wrong to work with a catwalk agency or fashion designer?
I guess it’s not so black and white, and depends, in turn, on the ethics of the agency / fashion designer.
I fully agree that the easy road is not always the right one. I’d go one further to say that the difficult road is usually the right one.
Prasanth,
I think I’ve worded my post incorrectly, because you’re right that ethics can’t just be used / not used at your own convenience. Ethics should be upheld, and it says a lot about a person who doesn’t compromise them. Perhaps this is a negative aspect about me, with my stance on the fashion industry topic?
Vivien,
Maybe the case is, that there’s so much work out there for web designers, that you always have the choice not to compromise your ethics? Well, you always have a choice, but the pressure levels can differ. I’ve been fortunate enough in life that I was born into a stable family, there was always food on the table and a roof over my head, so my ethics haven’t been called into question when I had no other option.
I honestly can’t think of any situation where I’d turn down work in the name of ethics. Certainly the examples cited above (tobacco, fashion and adult) I’d happily cash in a big cheque for doing.
That’s not to say I don’t have morals and ethics, there are plenty of things I disapprove of around the world - but smoking, fashion and sex are not any of those things.
One of the things that I do feel quite strongly about is the environment. But each and every one of us are as guilty as the next so to take a stance against non-environmentally friendly clients would be business suicide - you’d accept no work.
Interesting to see everyone’s stance on the issue.
Although I’ve never been approached for, say, tobacco design work (I doubt I ever will!), I’ve done quite a lot of adult design work in the past. Its lucrative and I relished the challenge, as it’s a very competitive sector both aesthetically and with SEO. I enjoyed pushing myself to produce better results in that context.
The only time I’ve turned down work on a moral/ethics basis, is for a redesign of a drug retailer. Although they were for legitimate, herbal drugs that are all above board and legal, its not something I’ve ever approved of, and I turned down the work without hesitation.
What an excellent topic. I’m more into writing and I can tell you that I’d never take a product/service I don’t agree with. But ethics are a subjective matter. I had no idea that the line is so thin for designers too…
Btw, I will start this week that debate I was talking about in one of your previous posts (stressWELL). I’ll keep you posted.
Every Action has an Equal and Opposite reaction. I am not sure if anybody realises how much truth this is!
Imagine, just because you did a GREAT attractive Ad work which shows a good moral to the society and it turned out to be a reason someone changed their life for the good. We might not know how this has changed someone. It could be the other way too if we did an ad for a cigarette or did an adult site!
You must have done a great job but for someones good? Yes it may help the client get a lot of money but is that client going to help the poor with that money? No way! It will be spent for something bad again..just see how the line goes and we may be in that chain..when we try to see it as a whole a lot of money is spent for a bad cause!
Let me go a little philosophical…even if we do good or wrong we get the money, happiness or peace if that money is for us!
So why we go the wrong way? :)
Its all about making this World a beautiful place to live and each of us are responsible for this and makes a BIG difference!
I dont think there is a one word answer for this. It has to come from someone’s thought or heart! Just see if its really helping..
To be a stickler, I need to point out that this is a question of morals or values, not ethics. Ethics encompass morals, but technically ethics are not morals. Ethics are the study of or a system of values, a way of categorizing or explaining how a person/group makes decisions (ethics are more philosophical and academic, where values are more concrete). It is a little confusing. Sorry, I had that ground into me in my ethics class…
Anyway! I faced a situation a few months ago where I was asked to redesign a website for a church. I don’t want to start up a whole religious debate, but suffice to say I didn’t believe in the same things the church was promoting. I struggled with making a decision for a few days and ultimately decided not to do it. I couldn’t help that church promote things I didn’t agree with at a very core level. I know I made the right decision.
I like what Prasanth said above, we have more to consider than pleasing the client or earning money. We also have to think about how it will affect our world and the people in it and whether it will be a positive contribution.
I don’t think we have to deal with this question most of the time–if we’re designing ads or websites for watch companies or a restaurant–but sometimes there are hard decisions to make and it helps when we really know ourselves and our values.
Hmm, can you see my Reformer personality coming out here?
Basically, if you don’t agree with what you have to design, it is very hard to create a perfect design to make more and more people to be in favour of what you are opposed. You cannot show the rest of the world the advantages of a particular thing if you really don’t find any advantage on it.
This was a great post David. You asked the question were I would draw the line and I would draw the line where I saw fit. For most people it’s not black and white as you stated, I guess you just have to weigh the pros and cons in each case. I personally would never do the front of a cigarette box… and the same goes for alcohol.
Great topic. It is something I have wrestled with and still do.
Just last quarter I completed an assigment in my publishing & layout class where we had to design against our beliefs. I went far, far into it and designed for the Westboro Baptist Church, something I would never do in reality.
I spoke of it here: http://www.serastrawbridge.com/?p=444
I agree with the others, there’s definitely a point where I would draw the line.
I wouldn’t put my ethics to the side for money - whats the sense of having them. Here’s what I do: I post on my site what I will and will not do. This eliminates those who would temp me to put my ethics aside in a time where I needed the money the most. I’m against gambling - I hate what its doing to my city (making addicts). So when I received an offer to do a large project for some local casinos - I turned them down. You gotta have ethics.
I’d certainly agree that the environment is one topic we should all be passionate about, but I know what you mean about it being business-suicide to reject all clients who aren’t as eco-friendly as they could be. Thanks for the input.
Damien,
It is indeed interesting to read the different perspectives. I thought when I published this article that there’d be some division, but it’s great to have debates. With regards the herbal drugs, I don’t think I’d take a strong stance against it, but of course I only have a fraction of the story. I’m more against the tobacco industry than I am any herbal drugs, but then I smoked cigarettes for about six years in the past.
What do they say? There’s no worse smoker than an ex-smoker? Something stupid like that anyway. ;)
Mig,
Looking forward to that article, and you’re right, ethics (or morals, as Lauren pointed out) are subjective, hence the differing opinions here.
Prasanth,
I’m one that believes in karma too. What goes around comes around, which helps me swallow some major decisions that I know aren’t right.
Lauren,
Interesting story, thanks for sharing it. I can imagine there are a few religious issues that I’d not feel happy representing. Oh, and thanks for being a stickler too. I had a feeling I shot this post out faster than I should’ve.
Kersson,
Great observation. It’s all about sales, and how you have to believe in your product to be successful. Thanks for stopping by.
Adrian,
Glad you enjoyed the topic.
Sera,
What did you think of the assignment you were set? Did you class see the benefit behind it? I’ve not come across an assignment like that before.
Neal,
Definitely a good way to save yourself some time, by clarifying as much as possible before initial contact. Thanks for leaving your take on the matter.
It was an excellent, thought provoking post, David, and we all know what you meant. It was just a nit-picky little thing ;) This is a difficult topic! It’s sometimes tough to know exactly where to draw the line.
My ethics and my word are EVERYTHING. I have suffered due to an ethics decision, but I have to live with myself. If you are willing to compromise your ethics what are you left with? Some may say if they were not finacially secure they would bend - that diminishes you as a professional.
To me it is black and white - either you have or do not have ethics. A compromise is like “I only murdered him a little”.
David,
I enjoyed the assignment very much, as tough as it was. I found it most beneficial because it made me think and research. It was quite a stretch from doing the basic brochures and business cards (although I love those too.)
I was shocked when the professor gave us the assignment, because I go to a very conservative school. I thought, what if someone outside our class sees what I’ve designed? They wouldn’t understand. I’m not sure if the rest of the class gained anything from it, because it was our final project so we didn’t have much time to critique each other’s work. But for me it was very personal. I know now that there will come a time when I may have to tell a client “no thanks.”
As you may already be aware David, I have strong, and what may be termed ‘old fashioned’ morals. I think our loose modern ideals, and ‘do anything for a $’ attitude, is eating away at the very fabric and structure of a civilised society.
As much as we all think the world is making progress in this 21st century, there are many more ways in which it’s falling apart. We think we’re more ‘intellectual’ now, than before. And yet, what is an intellect, if it doesn’t even know how to treat people? We think we’re more ‘advanced’, and yet what is ‘advanced’ about crawling home from the pub on a Friday night, or thinking it’s cool to take drugs?
I say our ‘modern’ perspectives have been twisted, distorted, and then veneered with a thin layer of ‘ego’ to make us feel as if we’re better than past generations.
Great topic. Reminded me of an incident, that happened many years ago, when I was working for a British agency. We were thrilled to win the pitch of a big retail chain. The excitement was killed when the client asked us to split the media commission equally with them. The agency turned it down and naturally, the account went to the runner-up. The entire team was deeply disappointed as we had worked really hard and done a very good job to deliver the intended results. My MD said he would be spoiling the market and will eventually hurt the creative industry as a whole, if he accepted the deal
Ed Roach said: “To me it is black and white - either you have or do not have ethics. A compromise is like “I only murdered him a little”. My MD had a slightly different twist: “Either you are pregnant or you are not. There’s no half-half.”
Let your passion, integrity and belief guide you in any business approaches and it’s likely you’ll stay on the right track.
(Off topic: Seen my tag on “entrepreneurship?)
David, whatever provoked you post this debate shows you are driving hard to find the truth about life so do others! People like this make a BIG difference to the society for the good!
I’ve just started on web designing and just done one client.
I just want to say you really threw a great post and yes i simply rule out a working relationship with a client that against my ethics. because that what ethic is in the first place. Fortunately (or unfortunate?) i never had difficulties with my income that why i never compromise with my work ethics. I still had a long way to go in designing but your topic give me a great insight in what I’m going to prepare of in the future.
Where do you draw the line? I think this is such an important question - and it definitely does not only confine to design. In business, in our relationships, where do you draw the line? Would you tell the truth if it may harm your interest? Would you follow the instructions that go against your beliefs?
It is indeed sometimes tough. There are so many external factors at force, that you have to look hard inside yourself to discover where you really want to go.
Ed,
Thanks for the input, and I like your quote to back up your thinking.
Sera,
It turns out there have been many more times I’ve told a client, “no thanks” for reasons not involving ethics / morals.
Armen,
Your name cropped up in my thoughts when I was writing this one. I know that ethics are high on your agenda, so thanks for joining the discussion.
Vivienne,
I’ve not seen your tag yet, but will pay your site a visit shortly. Thanks!
Prasanth, Dian, Shine,
It’s great that you spend the time repsonding to my post. I’m sorry I can’t write longer replies at this time. Work constraints are diminishing the time I want to spend responding to you individually. This is something I’ll have to address somehow.
Again, thanks to all who took some ‘time out’ here.
I’m currently in this situation. I’m doing work for an organization that really skirted the line of my personal ethics. I decided in the long run that it was a good opportunity for me and it may provide me work in the future that isn’t related to this specific organization since I’m being sub-contracted.
I can definitively say there are several sectors I wouldn’t do work for:
Any company that abuses animals in any way.
Certain political parties
Any company that takes a stance against equality (whether it be race, gender or sexual orientation)
Any company that was responsible for further damaging the environment
Some adult content (though I’d never display it in my portfolio, I think adult content is healthy… to a degree)
I suppose ethically I’d turn down anything that may inhibit the growth of the planet or mankind.
I was recently put into a very awkward situation; I had to fire a client. This was a first for me and I have been working with clients for 4 years, so I guess I was lucky. I was working on a very large redevelopment project and long story short, 80% into the project the client basically admits to doing something very shady and we find out we are a part of it which immediately raises the red flag. I’m actually writing a post about it for search-this.com so i don’t want to go into too many details here, but needless to say, there is a line and our line is anything that could potentially damage the reputation of our firm or its members.
Your ethics are very similar to mine. Thanks for dropping by and sorry it took so long to acknowledge you!
Sara,
I think that after four years of working with clients, only firing your first one now is great going. I’ve only had to do it once so far, and I’ve been in self-employment for 2 years. It was a sad process, and one I hope doesn’t come around too often.
Hi
Have found all of the comments posted here very interesting…we too have experienced the dilema. One particular client springs to mind, we were at the quoting stage of designing a website for them and it became apparent that they were intending to leave the company they were working for and steal all the data to set up their own business. What was even more insulting was that they wanted US to do the stealing for them!!! We quickly made it clear that we couldn’t be part of it and haven’t heard from them since. We are however, a fairly well established design company so I can understand why someone starting out may have been more tempted!
Toni
Good to know your ethics are on track. I think whether you’re starting out or not, there should never be any temptation to steal. Once tarnished, your reputation is incredibly hard to build back up.
It’s all very well for me to say this, but my boss may not agree (LOL). I absolutely would not work for a company guilty of environmental damage, or any guilty of animal cruelty. I believe in sticking by my principles, so I would be willing to resign if my boss didn’t accept my refusal to work on that particular project.
I agree with your comment above - once tarnished, your reputation is incredibly hard to build back up. News travels fast, but bad news travels even faster. I am keen to work on environmental projects - why would anyone take me seriously if I had a history of working for unethical organisations?
I also stick to my principles when it comes to any additional freelance work I’ve done (I rejected one client because they insisted logo contests were a viable way to work, and one because he was a tattoo ‘artist’ with a shoddy reputation) and also any job I apply for. Anywhere with a dress code, or anyone who discriminates against tattoos or appearance is out - I do not believe you can insist on creativity from designers while insisting they all look the same.
Everyone’s principles are different - as long as you stick to them, it’s all valid :-)
Forgot to add:
But each and every one of us are as guilty as the next so to take a stance against non-environmentally friendly clients would be business suicide - you’d accept no work
I don’t agree - each of us is NOT as guilty as the next. If I wasn’t environmentally responsible, I’d be hypocritical to accuse clients of ill practice. Why should I go out of my way to reduce, re-use, recycle, source eco-friendly products and not have a car, then actually increase an environmentally damaging client’s profits with a good design?
When you say this:
“Everyone’s principles are different - as long as you stick to them, it’s all valid.”
I fully agree. I don’t want to force my opinion on anyone, and there’s only so much reasoning you can do.
Thanks for commenting.