WWYD - When Your Ethics Come Into Play
All of us have values - and opinions - about various issues in life. This is all OK - it's what makes us who we are and is also one of convenants the Founding Fathers wished for us. Although personal beliefs are very important to us, what do we do when there is a conflict? Even more, what do we do when a client's project has a message that goes against our very core?
WWYD Situation Number 3
You finally landed this great, all-encompassing, print-to-Web project from a prestigious client you've been wanting to work with for a long time. All of your calls and direct marketing have finally paid off - they've contacted you to create the messaging and design all the materials for this high-caliber campaign.
Upon your first client meeting you find out the following: not only is this huge job (with a big budget) all about an extremely controversial political issue for an upcoming election, it is an issue you feel strongly against. Your view is the complete opposite of theirs and you find yourself feeling ill and repulsed during the meeting. The budget for the project is unlike any you've ever experienced before and would really put your revenues over the top for the end of year's accounting. You'd have a wonderful Holiday season. The client will be asking you to sign confidentiality, personal bias, and conflict-of-interest agreements. They also have let it be known that they're coming to you or your firm because of your professionalism and work you've done for other prestigious clients - a real ego boost. They want to begin working right away and are ready to sign a contract ASAP. What Would You Do?
Do you jump on this job right away and put aside your feelings and beliefs on this issue? Or, do you turn down this project because of your feelings and beliefs? Either way, how do you handle this and communicate to the client? At this time of year, I'm sure we all receive a lot of big, glossy propaganda pieces in the mail and are directed to Websites that have even more propaganda on them. Sometimes when I look at my mail, I think, "Who worked on this?" or "Who designed this?" Sometimes I'd like to get the chance to work on design challenges like these, but it takes an awful lot of thought. So, please take some time to think about this situation and post your comments here. And, remember, they WILL be posted (now that I know how to get them posted)...
I'd design it regardless. If I had accepted the job, and being a professional, my personal feelings wouldn't be the issue. Hence being professional.
You don't have to support something to do good design, but it helps.
This actually happened to us recently. Prospect and circumstances were a little different but the fact that I was repulsed by what I had learned about this particular organization resulted in our polite declining to even submit a bid. While some may say that not everyone has the luxury of turning down clients (especially those with extra healthy budgets), I would ask how far would you go to put your principles, morals and even pride aside for money and/or prestige? In the end, for me, I just knew that I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
Nice post. Really appreciate.
Good question. I guess it depends on why I feel strongly against.
If I disagree with the potential client because I believe a stance is not in the best public interest — and the general public may be already well-informed about it to form their own opinions — I may consider doing the job. If I disagree because I feel that it is immoral, criminal, or dangerous to the public, I will not take the job.
But, in the middle there are those things that can go either way, such as ideas that are not inherently dangerous or criminal. However, I feel that they can lead to something dangerous or criminal. That's a judgment call on a case-by-case basis.
I suppose I really didn't answer the question.
I think the current 'banking-for-quick-profit' implosion, the temptation of a 'big purse' - and not taking it up front and feeling/being better (things ENDING UP BETTER) afterwards is a good example of what to do!
I WOULD NOT - though enticing it would be and my kids wouldn't be 'anemic' anymore - 'sell my graphic soul for a casserole'.
My character and conscience are more important than their subjective interpretation of my 'professionalism'.
Mark Jaquette
BAMmGRAPHICS &
illustrationISM
In this way, I think designers are like salesmen. Our ultimate goal is to make the product we're designing, or the message behind it sell. Although there are always some salesmen who are good at selling anything you give them, most of us need to believe in the product/message.
If I don't believe in the message the client is trying to convey, how can I possibly create something that will convince others to believe in it? and if I find their message so repulsive, how could I do a good job at making it seem attractive? Maybe someone else can, but I never could, and so taking this project wouldn't be in my best interest, or in the best interest of the client.
A professional approach is not taking a job that is against your personal beliefs, no matter what the financial rewards. If the repulsion to the project is as strong as the hypethetical situation says, you wouldn't be able to give it your best effort no matter how objectively you tried.
Besides, if you worked on a piece that promoted something your very against, you would be directly supporting their cause by working for them. Both you and the client are better off by you declining the job.
i'd like to believe i could politely turn it down, but i recently received a job where i had to match some existing work & was forced to use the font that should not even be mentioned (comic sans) after showing & explaining why this was a bad choice the client put her foot down & it is on her business cards. I felt so dirty.
I think it would be along the lines of design for pornographic adults sites or something for the KKK. I would think it would have to be a case by case thing. There's a million porn sites and I bet the KKK has some of their own designers. I've got a family to support but I don't think I have been challenged by what line I have to cross cause I need to feed them. I think my bar is pretty low but I don't know... the proposal in this post is a pretty good problem to have
For the most part I believe that part of being a professional is keeping your opinions to yourself. It does not make sense to put your personal feelings into every design that you work on, because then you could work for no one but yourself. Just like you had to do in school; not every assignment was something you found productive or useful. However, as part of a company, it is your job to do work for your clients, not for yourself.
I think everyone has their limitations. As a designer relies on past work to help promote new work or your name, the judgement for me would be based on if the proposed job would hurt my future possibilities or promote them. I'm sure that every successful person had to sacrifice something to get where they are, it's just a matter if you're willing to make a sacrifice to get to that goal you have been yearning and dreaming for. The reality is greatness is not achieved without some sacrifice.