Graphic Designers of the Design for Good Movement: ethical design work to produce ethical design outcomes. (original) (raw)
Commercial graphic design has come to be viewed as damaging to the environment and society. This dissertation examines graphic designers of the current Design for Good movement to determine what their two desires: (1) for meaningful and ethical work and (2) for the production of ethical outcomes which encourage positive social and environmental change, reveal about the relationship between design and ethics in contemporary society. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews revealing the personal experiences of individual designers and document analysis of online mission statements of Design for Good agencies and activist design organisations, the following research questions are answered: What motivates designers to participate in Design for Good? What is the role of the Design For Good community in driving the Design for Good movement? How do graphic designers and design organisations define authentic Design for Good? What does this indicate about the relationship between ethics and design work in contemporary society? Comparing data to theories of ethical work and job selection identified in the literature review, design’s relationship to ethics is revealed to be deep routed in its ability to influence change. Designer’s understanding of this power and their ability to champion their personal values in their work and within the Design for Good community are recognised as strong motivating factors. Authentic Design for Good is understood to be hugely complicated to define, particularly with regards to client selection and working with commercial clients. Characteristics of contemporary society including capitalist systems and a lack of unified governance are identified as barriers. However, the relationship between ethics and design is observed to be reciprocal: ethical issues in contemporary society encourage designers to seek ethical work, whilst the ethical outcomes produced function as meta-goods, reshaping society’s understanding and awareness of ethical issues.
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