A few scenarios of ethical dilemma's actual graphic designers have encountered. Some great discussion starters!

1. Ethics
In Graphic
Design
“How can one be well...when one suffers morally?”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
“The only true test
of values, either of
men or of things, is
that of their ability
to make the world
a better place in
which to live.”
― Henry Ford
“A man’s most valuable
possession is his
integrity. Unless he has
no integrity. In which
case, he may not have
much of anything of
value.”
― T Jay Taylor

2. Ethics in Graphic Design
✗ What does it mean to be an ethical
designer?
✗ Is it possible for a graphic designer to be
ethically neutral?
2
[ THINK - PAIR - SHARE ]

3. 3
WHAT’S A PRECEPT?

4. 4
SCENARIOS:
1. Read
2. Reflect
3. Share
4. Discuss
Consider how each of these could be made into a precept.

5. Scenario #1
Raj is working as a graphic designer. He is a devout
Christian but his firm recently gave him the assignment
to do the marketing material for a Hindu temple. Should
he decline?
5
Rajani Patel

6. Scenario #2
Janelle is an in-house graphic designer for
major clothing company, H&M. She loves her
job. She loves the style of the clothing H&M
produces. She has recently learned about
H&M’s use of sweatshop labor. Should she
continue to use her skills to help sell such
goods?
6
Janelle Holiday

7. Scenario #3
Freelancer, Judson has been hired to design a logo for a
new steakhouse. The client requested that the main
visual in the logo be a waitress serving steak. The client
liked the designs Jud drew up but now they are
requesting that he make the logo “sexier, with plenty of
cleavage.” Judson is uncomfortable doing work that
objectifies women. What should he do?
7
Judson Miller

8. Scenario #4
Charlotte works for a design firm and her latest
assignment is for her employer’s biggest client, Better
Grains Corp.. BGC wants Charlotte to design packaging
for a new snack called Slim Bar. Charlotte knows that
the bar is just a candy bar that BGC wants to market
as a healthy snack.
When she asks her boss, he says, “We’re not lying. The
nutritional information is accurate. It’s just imagery.”
8
Charlotte BURG

9. Scenario #5
Ana is a freelance graphic designer. Because she cares
for the mission of a local non-profit, she’s agreed to
spend some of her time doing pro-bono design work for
them. Her first job for them is a poster advertising an
auction fundraiser.
9
Ana Durantes
What should have been a quick job has consumed much of her time as the
organizing committee keeps asking for changes to her design. She is
frustrated because this is taking a lot of time away from her paid work.

10. Guidebook

11. Challenge:
Make a list of precepts for
working in graphic design today.
✗ Think about the scenarios we just looked at as
well as other issues that might arise in this field.
✗ Include dos along with your don’ts.
✗ Consider Biblical precepts.
11

12. TOPICS TO CONSIDER:
12
Quality of Design
Treatment of Clients
Treatment of CoWorkers
Treatment of Consumer
Purpose of Design
Waste
Wages/Pricing
Trolls
Crowdsourcing
Enabling Broken
Systems
Promoting Causes
Copyrights
Photo Manipulation
Promoting the Wrong
False Marketing

13. Shameless
Marketer
Inspiration
Collection

25. THE RESULTS ARE IN.
25
Dos
● Know where you stand.
● Be expressive, original.
● Excellence (for God’s glory)
● Listen to feedback.
● Be confident.
● Stay true to your brand.
● Work hard, set goals.
● Have purpose in mind.
● Stay professional and appropriate.
● Invest in your work.
● Good communication.
● Values over money.
● Find ways to serve.
● Charge fairly.
Don’ts
● Don’t compromise your beliefs or
advance causes you disagree with.
● Don’t dis others, hurt others.
● Don’t take on too much.
● Don’t get taken advantage of.
● Don’t violate copyright or steal imagery.
● Don’t waste

26. Several groups wrote precepts about saying “no”
to projects that violate their own personal moral
code.
26
Personal Precepts:
Take a few moments to reflect on your own beliefs and your role in the
world of design. What precepts might guide behavior as consumer,
employee, designer, etc.?

27. ✗ Shine light into this dark world.
✗ Help advance causes I believe in.
✗ Provide for my family.
✗ Don’t devalue my profession.
✗ Celebrate great work made by others.
✗ Do excellent work that gives me joy.
✗ Be kind to people.
✗ Open and honest communication
✗ Draw inspiration from others’ work but don’t copy.
✗ Avoid work that may lead others to sin. (overtly sexual, crass,
hateful, misleading)
✗ Avoid work that promotes companies or causes that celebrate
sin, do damage to families, devalue people, or run contrary to the
precepts of Scripture.
-
27
Hox’s Personal Design Code: