I’ve been designing professionally for 4 years now and have turned down 2 projects in the tobacco industry (Herbal Cigs and a Hooka company) and 3 distilled alcohol projects. Most of you agree that tobacco is a no no. And if not for personal objection, you realize future clients would likely not want their work displayed alongside a tobacco product. For my own personal beliefs, alcohol falls in this same category. I personally live a sober life and can’t devote myself to a product I would not consume.

The times in my life when I have crossed my own moral, ethical boundaries … I’ve paid for it with regret and self-loathing. To do that professionally would be a depressing existence. And I hope to never compromise to increase my income. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.

I completely disagree with the idea that young designers should build their portfolio’s doing work they may or may not agree with. Past work is bait for new work. Why would I display work I didn’t want to do again?

Thanks David

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.

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?

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 :-)

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.

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.

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.