As a graphic designer, you may sometimes find yourself in a situation that does not align with your personal values and/or beliefs. At the same time, as a professional, you may feel obligated to create designs regardless of your personal values and/or beliefs.

In this discussion, you have been given a scenario that is lawful but presents an ethical dilemma. 

Scenario
You are just starting out as a freelancer, and you have been given the opportunity to design for a trendy beauty brand. The brand was launched less than two years ago but has become very popular. It is known for its “clean ingredients” that are devoid of chemicals and are procured from sustainable sources. The packaging is also a huge hit with customers because it does not use any plastic. The brand is also known for promoting recycling initiatives that appeal to both current and prospective customers for being environmentally friendly.

You have been asked to work on the design of a new line of products that is meant for teenagers experiencing acne. For the advertisement, the client wants you to airbrush the model’s skin so that it appears to be unblemished and acne free. You are concerned about the message this will send to teenagers who are at an impressionable age and are likely fighting societal and peer pressure to look a certain way.

Discussing ethical and social considerations may mean exploring opinions and perspectives that are different from your own. Remember to remain thoughtful and respectful toward your peers and instructor in your initial post and responses.

In your initial post, address the following in no more than two or three paragraphs:

Explain how you would respond to the scenario. Include the financial, ethical, and/or social considerations that went into your decision.

Note: There are no right or wrong answers here; each graphic designer responds to dilemmas differently.

Summarize your thoughts on the social and ethical responsibilities of graphic designers.

In response to at least two peers, answer the following in no more than one or two paragraphs:

• Why do you agree or disagree with your peers’ response to the scenario?

What new insights about social and ethical responsibilities of graphic designers did you gain from your peers’ initial posts?

• Which considerations did your peers focus on more or less than you did?
• First Peer reviews you need to respond to: 

This is from Laura Torres: Hi Everyone /p>

This type of advertising has exasperated me since the early 80s when I started paying attention to cosmetic ads and fashion magazines. In this case, I would try to work with the client, pre-contract signing 4o see if they would be open to another advertising solution. Otherwise, I would decline the job. 

• Ethically, I do not feel participating in something that is a deliberate falsehood, is something I can do. I cannot profit from others being taken advantage of. The visual image of the modelàskin will be the first thing viewers see.
• Only after, will they read about the positives the company has to offer. Socially, clean ingredients are a wonderful thing, so is no plastic. It sounds like this company has all of the right things going on except the shortcut the marketing team is willing to take. 
• Logically -y own inclusion here )f the product is so great, then we need to see some actual photography of success stories that can be used in the advertising. I am sure it works for some people, so letàuse real achievements. 

Financially, I realize my choice may not be optimal for everyone, as a paid project is nothing to be turned away. In my case, because I have been effected by false advertising, I wouldn’t be able to do it. 

Graphic design affects much of human society nowadays. Designing for people is the goal, but how? There are so many factors to consider when trying to be ethical and socially responsible #ultures, ethnicities, gender specifics and sexual orientations, religious sensitivities, color use, terminology, symbols, etc. Researching, asking questions when you don know about something, being respectful of others, understanding differences, being aware of the fine lines of cultural celebration vs. appropriation are just a few of the ways we can be ethical designers. 

The harm that bad visual communication can cause should also be considered. If a face cleanser ad can be exaggerated or false, think of what other false hoods can be injected into our media. War, politics, religion, environmental causes, everything can be skewed for the benefit of one, rather than the good of all. Giving people the wrong impression, whether an ad or other, is the opposite of sending a truthful, humanistic message.

~Laura 

P.S. Hereàa case of what propaganda can do from the entertainment industry. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/

Second Peer reviews you need to respond to: 

This from Hannah Majeske: Even though it is a graphic designers responsibility to be ethical with their work I would still continue with the job. The realities of assembling an advertisement start to finish will likely not be as perfect as what is intended. In general the goal is always to sell a product or persuade the viewer in some way. The brand likely only wants to display positive effects even if they aren’t inherently truthful because someone planning to buy something to clear their acne want to see someone with clear skin free of acne. In regards to the model they probably don’t even use the product to begin with. The model could have even woke up that morning with a random and unrelated blemish.

As lovely as a brand may appear to be on the surface level there will always be more to the story of how an advertisement comes to be. It likely will never go as smoothly as people may plan for, but the goal is always to find the best solution that is eye catching and will sell the product best. Once the new product is out, the customer can ultimately decide for themselves whether or not the product is right for them.