Redefining Design Ethics
Phil McCollam · Design and Culture · 2014
Discussions of law within graphic design education typically focus on copyright, trademarks, contracts, and the legal rights of designers, rather than on the laws that regulate the content and form of media such as web and mobile applications. Similarly, discussions of “design ethics” in many curricula are incomplete, referencing “Citizen Designer” or Glaser's “12 Steps on the Road to Hell,” but overlooking the ethical dimensions of the design process that occur subsequent to the selection of a client. Using the legal case of Maguire v. SOCOG (2000) and the issue of accessibility as points of departure, this article examines the legal and ethical aspects of web and mobile design. It proposes alternative definitions of design ethics that apply to the entirety of the production process, and calls for designers to adopt industry self-regulation or licensure to help ensure that designers are aware of and comply with the ethical standards and laws applicable to their profession.