I think Ethics is a process of learning – not a process of obedience. Ethic is the rule governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession which also sets the principles of right of conducts. It is about why we design and how we judge.
Today it is more important than ever that designers understand how influential their work really is and how they can use it to promote their ideals. Graphic Design is a form of communication in which visual information is used to convey a message its applications are endless, and it has the potential to make the world a better place.
what it should take is for each designer to examine his or her own morals and understand the role of design in the world that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice”
The designer must work with harmony and balance in mind, working for the good of the weaker members of our society, and be willing to face the consequences of their design interventions, and accepting their social and moral responsibilities.
As a practitioner-researcher, I should be aware of these issues and how I might respond to the. Work ethics include not only how one feels about their job, career or vocation, but also how one does his/her job or responsibilities. This involves attitude, behaviour, respect, communication, and interaction; how one gets along with others. Work ethics demonstrate many things about whom and how a person is
One way to design ethically is to apply your talents to serve a social or cultural purpose, or fill a need in society. Design can be used to open people’s eyes to important issues, bring people together for a common purpose, or serve public needs. Political posters, promotions for cultural events, identities for non-profit organizations, and educational materials are all possibilities.
Another way to design ethically is make sure that your clients reflect your morals as well. Researching a client’s background is important to keep personal integrity and to make sure your work won’t be used to represent something you don’t agree with. Designers must step back and take a look at the meaning their work on what it produces, and what it stands for.
Each client we work with is a reflection on our integrity, so we must take precautions before agreeing to take on a new client relationship. A main focus of Adbusters magazine is to break design molds and change minds.
Caroline Whitbeck in Ethics in Engineering Practice and Research argues that ethics is traditionally regarded as judging something that has already been done. But the bigger challenge and what ethics should be is about the way to act. And that is a problem of design devising ethical courses of action. A designer should not only make things that look good but also be able to help explain the value of what they design in a larger context, Respect other designers in fair and open competition, Be honest when you are describing your professional experience and competencies, Avoid any type of conflict of interest, Acquaint yourself with each client’s business and provide honest and impartial advice, Maintain the confidentiality of all client information, Eliminate any form of hidden compensation or kickback, Maintain commitment to the development of innovative work of the highest quality, Reject all forms of plagiarism ethics and social responsibility, Acknowledge authorship of others who have collaborated with you in creating a designDesign itself is ethics. It is all about what is the right thing to do and to follow rules, and not just technically. Everything that is made is an argument about how we should live our lives. The world is filled with competing objects that are arguing amongst themselves for our attention. "Live my way! Live my way!" Deciding where and how to employ the art of design is an ethical issue.
Designers need to be both technically right and compellingly wise. Wisdom is about evaluating and choosing between competing principles. And to be wise is to be aware. And awareness is the passage to action.
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Hey good blog, I’m not that familiar with graphic design so it was a great read and very informative.
ReplyDeleteYou mention, “Ethics is a process of learning – not a process of obedience”. Do you believe that society has already dictated what is ethically acceptable, e.g. punctuality, being polite, being politically correct?
What is the out come of being disobedient or gradually learning these work and personal ethics?
Thank you for replying and having a grasp look of what i wrote down.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking from the terms of ethics in the design feild i believe and due to experience i can say its not a process of obedience.
I mean over the years i have worked in different field of design and i can abosolutey say that i as a designer dont really follow design rules i break them or go around it, even turn up to work late make sure the work is done and if i have to stay over to meet the deadline i will. As humans even in the professional field we are bound to be polite but sometimes we come across being polite directly and indirectly
There are certain things we as designers do but in the long run we do cover up our tracks or make up for it but in everything we do we learn we adapt and we at times rub off others as well whereby it then sinks in us and it becomes our custom.
the outcomes of being disobedient could be anything good or bad i.e
i was given a design and i had short notice and pressurised time, in the long run i sorta manipulated the companies logo to create a fantastic piece of poster. I was personally told that i brooke the rules and i would have been taken to court but in the end i became second place for creating the poster and this was by using and manipulating the companies logo.
in that case what resulted to be bad turned out good.