Behind the scenes of commercial design: the morality and duty of the designer
Designers employed by a design studio often find themselves in a situation where they have to choose between their personal beliefs and the financial interests of their clients. To illustrate this, let me share an example from my own experience. I was tasked with designing a booklet for a medical centre that specializes in homeopathic treatment.
Personally, I am a modern thinker and have a strong interest in science, which leads me to have doubts about the effectiveness of homeopathy. However, I had to deliver the project as per the client’s requirements. So, how should one navigate a situation where the client’s goals clash with my own beliefs?
In this situation, it’s important to note that homeopathy is often viewed as a pseudoscience by many medical professionals and scientists. Personally, I experienced a strong moral discomfort because I was creating content that would endorse a method lacking scientific credibility.
This situation presented a challenging moral dilemma: should I prioritize the interests of the commercial client and create material that I considered unreliable, or should I refuse the task and potentially damage my reputation within the team?
Potential solutions?
- Prioritize Professional Ethics: Focus on designing the booklet while emphasizing aesthetics and functionality, avoiding explicit endorsement of the content’s scientific validity.
- Engage in a Team Discussion: Have an open conversation with your team to address your concerns and explore the possibility of reassigning the task to a colleague more comfortable with its content.
- Consider a Career Shift: Explore the option of transitioning from a design studio to a product company that aligns with your desire to work on projects that provide tangible and beneficial solutions for people.
Throughout my life, I’ve come across numerous books that have instilled in me a commitment to only endorse or promote something when there’s solid evidence to support it. However, this personal conviction often clashes with the practical realities of the job. Whether I like it or not, I am tasked with creating a booklet.
In my situation, I expressed to the team that I have no personal affinity for such companies or practices. Still, I didn’t actively attempt to pass on my task to someone else. I hope to discover a way to navigate similar situations in the future, and perhaps you can provide some insight into that as well.
I’d like to be straightforward and explain the rationale behind my decision. I didn’t attempt to delegate the task to another designer primarily because I never found the right moment to bring up this issue. To be honest, I was apprehensive about the reaction it might elicit. Despite the positive relationships and the studio’s culture, I felt hesitant about discussing this matter here. In hindsight, this hesitation was unfounded.
Furthermore, assigning the task to another designer likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome. The booklet would have been created anyway, contributing to the studio’s profits. Instead, I chose to inform and advise those close to me or my audience about the situation.
Conclusion
Moral dilemmas in the design world can be complex and individualized. Designers, like other professionals, are faced with a choice between business and their beliefs. It is important to remember that each designer can find their own way of dealing with these situations, and this can involve both compromises and changes in the professional path.
If you want to watch something about homeopathy and its pseudoscience, I have a cool channel in mind. It also features a great book titled “Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Guide to the World of Paranormal Phenomena”
