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I was having this discussion/debate with a friend about how our creativity, our art is a potent medium to deliver messages, memes, ideas, into the world, and we are hugely responsible for what we choose to design or otherwise wrap in a pretty package that people will consume. Given that responsibility, she says that there are just some things she -won't- design for ethical reasons. And, since my friend is sort of a religious zealot type, she says that though everyone has freedom of speech, she won't help any clients design anything that's against her principles, for her namely marketing something that she knows will make people have unhealthy cravings (... I know, right) or sounds like an outright ripoff. 

Refusing projects for moral and ethical reasons aside, are there any other reasons why you -won't- design something? (Well the thread title is kind of a hook, I know there's going to be something most of us won't be willing to design) And what would _you_ not design? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Tags: ethics, freedom, morals, speech

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If the client has awful ideas of what's aesthetically pleasing, I'd flat out say, "I'm not doing that, sorry." 

But then that's easy for me to say because I don't design for a living!

I've turned down an airbrush/paint addition to old camper. Didn't feel comfortable doing what was being asked. I really wanted to help but in my head, I was struggling to see their vision as anything eye pleasing and thought it was just better to pass.

I'd also like to think I'd pass on designing for anything I didn't support but, having worked in advertising for so long for someone else, I am sure I didn't adhere to that rule for sake of employment and money somewhere down the line sadly.

Speaking of ethics, here's a relevant website I found: http://www.starvingforethics.com/ 

Check out their Facebook page's About section, your friend will probably relate strongly to it: 

"Is it right to work for tobacco companies? Do I agree that fashion and cosmetic advertising propels a culture of unrealistic beauty? Is it okay to recommend five forms of media to my client to raise the budget when I know only one will suffice? How do I choose between a beautiful minimalist eight page layout versus a slightly crammed but environmentally friendly four page layout? What do I do when my boss tells me to work on something I don't agree with?"

Anything which is against any religion, tradition and race. Also many many companies and individual designers don't like to design for adult material including myself. It's just that simple.

I have rejected work from people that I don't want to work with for whatever reason. Some clients are so demanding that it can blog you down with what seems like endless revisions. I have no problem with revisions in artwork but at some point there must be at least some portion of creative freedom that is given to a designer. Other folks that I have turned down have had negative reputations regarding payment of bills.

Clients have different believes. I remember a client  didn't want me to use orange in the card because in their belief orange had an offensive meaning for the purpose. I agreed to remove it. However, I rejected to work with people that I found they they have totally different view from what I have toward the work.

Knowing your user is definitely key to design but the user experience cant be designed.

"Profiling" your target market is sort of important for you when it comes to design to us. Basically we would not do the design if it is relating to religion and stuff.

Since we are doing our own profile, it's pretty easy for us to choose the jobs to work on. :)

I wouldn't design anything that has anything to do with politics.

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