Ethics in Art and Design

1. INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
MASON HILLIGENN
TASK 2

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MASON HILLIGENN
ETHICS
What are ethics?
The word “Ethics” derives from the Greek words “Ethos” and “ta ethika”
and is the standards of behaviour our society accepts.
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
There are many types of Ethics:
• Design Ethics
• Medical Ethics
• Workplace Ethics
• Gaming Ethics
• Accounting Ethics
• Judicial Ethics
• Education Ethics
• Corporate Ethics
• Sales Ethics
• Advertising Ethics
And more…
Respect of Rights
Taking into consideration peoples rights such
as right to freedom of expression or the right to
have privacy.
Obligations and Responsibilities
Being responsible for your own actions and
having standards that do not pose violent
activity such as stealing, murder, fraud and
assault.
Virtues or Character
Things are expected of your personality such
as honesty, patience, self-control,
trustworthiness, loyalty and more.
ETHICS

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MASON HILLIGENN
ETHICS IN ART AND DESIGN
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
Ethics comes up fairly often in the Art and Design industry. It is an artists job to make sure the work
they produce is not stolen and does not tamper with people’s rights and beliefs. Some ethics
include:
Copyright – Plagiarising other peoples work by copying it and not making it distinct enough from
the original one or using it and not asking for the artists permission.
Although not illegal, creating a piece of art that is visually similar to another is unethical . Sometimes
this can be unknowingly but copying a certain style of someone else's work you will be charging into
unethical territory.
Value for money – Charging a respectable amount of money for the product you are selling and
not over charging.
Subliminal messages - Often artwork can be designed to send out a message which at first glance
may not appear clear. Intentionally or unintentionally offending someone by doing this is seen as
unethical by society.

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MASON HILLIGENN
LEGAL CONSTRAINTS
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
Permissions – Having the owner of something agree to let you use it as your own.
If a designer plans on using an existing piece of work, they must find out who owns it and ask for their permission to use it.
Libel – Publishing something false/giving someone a bad name.
Magazine and newspaper writers must tell the truth to some extent about what their talking about especially when it involves a
person.
Race relations act – Taking into consideration other peoples backgrounds beliefs and how what
you’re publishing is going to affect them.
Artists must make sure their artwork does not include racist or discriminable behaviour.
Obscene publications act – The work being published should not contain inappropriate content.
Child nudity would be an example of posting obscene and inappropriate content.
Computer misuse act – Using a computer appropriately and responsibly, not using it to harm others
or gain access to private data.
There are large advantages when using technology in art and design. It is easy to gain access to the work of others and so it
should be used responsibly.
Data protection Act – Controls how personal information is managed buy businesses, organisations
and the government.
Keeping your personal details hidden is very important as it stops identity theft and fraud.
Accessibility – Allowing disabled people to have the same opportunities as someone who is able.
Architects should take into consideration those who are less able to access things.

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MASON HILLIGENN
LEGAL CONSTRAINTS FOR A DESIGNER
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
Contract types – A contract in art and design can be an agreement to complete or design a piece
of work or it can simply be a contract to use another persons work in your own.
Sub contracting – Sub contracting is very common. Often when someone signs a contract they will
need some assistance with the job and so they will sub-contract someone. This means they will sign
someone else to assist them with the job and give them a percentage of the money.
Working to a brief – A brief is devised by the client and tells the designer what the problem is. The
designer will follow the brief in order to produce an outcome the client is happy with.
Penalties – Severely breaching a contract (going against the rules of a client) will mean paying a
penalty.

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MASON HILLIGENN
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP)
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual Property refers to the rights of someone's ideas. A designer
has exclusive right over the use of his/her work.
• Until recently the rights to a design belonged to the client, these days if a piece of artwork is
created the designer will now have the rights to it and is free to do what they wish with it.
• A designer can protect their intellectual property by applying and registering their ideas and
designs online.
• When intentionally using parts of other peoples work as your own you will be prosecuted for
breaching the Intellectual Property act.
• When granted permission to use another artists work you will be within your own rights to use it.
• When a design is left un-registered it still belongs to the designer however legally anyone is able
to use it as their own. This is a common thing that can occur in the fashion industry with clothes.
• Unlike protected designs, unprotected designs do not have full cover and so components of the
design are likely to be used by others. This might include the designs colour, texture, shape etc.

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MASON HILLIGENN
RELATING TO MY OWN WORK
INTERFACE ASSIGNMENT
As an artist ethics are something I need to take into consideration in my own work as well. Within my
interface I need to ensure that the ideas I am using are my own and any existing images found on
the internet are granted by their rightful owners.
In a professional world of design it would be wise register my own designs to avoid others from
taking them and using them as their own in an unfair manner. I should also choose to price my items
appropriately if I decide to sell my own work. I as well as others should also respect a designers
intellectual property by being responsible with the access to other peoples ideas via the internet.