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POWEREdited + Ordered QuoteInternal LinkExternal LinksSpot WordsAgeGender IdentityLocationIndustry
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1"It's run by old white people who won't get out of the way."https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/tre-seals-is-turning-typography-into-a-radical-act/white [264]26Black FemaleAustin, TXCommunication / Graphic design|Service design|UI design
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2"As a woman in tech, I still want to see not just more women but more of the "other" ... trans, queer, non-binary, etc as well as people of color. I think there are perspectives and levels of ethics in design that could use an eye of someone who isn't a cis white male. Also the consequences of innovation is another issue ... often the way tech transforms our lives isn't considered until after the fact. Then we have to find solutions for problems we didn't have before."Representation [more of the other]https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/cutting-through-the-bullshit-heres-what-it-really-means-to-diversify-your-workplace/women [265] tech [280] ethics [208] white [264]30Latina FemaleLos Angeles, CACommunication / Graphic design|Education|UI design|UX design
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3"For me personally, it's diversity on the teams I'm in. Most of the teams I was part of are predominately white with similar design styles and perspectives [...]. I understand having more females is one form of expanding diversity, but I would like to see more walks of designers sharing their expertise and experiences."white [264] diversiy [545]31Asian FemaleSmyrna, GAExperience design|UX design
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4"Most of the great designers working today are ignored or completely unknown, even within the design community, if they don't have the propensity or inclination to gush about themselves on social media, afford to travel to attend overpriced conferences, or participate in the pay-to-play world of design awards shows. We shouldn't be relying on the loudest or most privileged voices among us to define our field."Community [ignored or completely unknown]social media [160]33White MaleSanta Ana, CA Communication / Graphic design|Data science|Motion graphics|Strategy|UI design
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5"I don't think designers talk enough about how straining the "paid for time" client services model is. Creative agencies are being gobbled up by the McKinseys of the world. Meanwhile the survivors race to the bottom to do more work for less money, or in less time—and call that a "sprint." I think there are other ways to do business, where creative people have greater ownership over the means of production."https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/this-is-what-starting-a-design-union-looks-like/28White MaleBrooklyn, NYCommunication / Graphic design|Illustration|Interaction design|UI design|UX design
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6"Older designers are not respected for what they bring to the table because we might not have the same technical skills as they do. Young designers think it's all about the programs, the algorithms, the code. So many don't understand typography, nuance, balance, color. It is sad to me."Representation [older designers]respect [190]64White FemaleLos Angeles, CACommunication / Graphic design|Illustration
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7"When looking at in-house design, the biggest issue I see is a lack of understanding of what design leadership is capable of contributing [...]. What that says to me, is that companies just want a designer who they don't have to pay a bunch of money to, and can execute on the company vision, without being a big contributor to it ... As far as agencies go, design is often sacrificed for client relationships"understanding [355] pay [644] lack of [1061]34White FemaleBrooklyn, NYExperience design|Service design|Strategy|UI design|UX design
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8"[...] I see marketing professionals having control over what design should look like, and having too much say in what a final design should be. Marketing professionals do not understand design like designers do, so it doesn't make sense to me why they would have a say in a design choice. [...] I also see marketing professionals not understanding just how important design is, and completely dismissing the importance and investment in good design and good designers..."Quality [dismission the .. designers ...]good design [173]32White FemaleWoodstock, GACommunication / Graphic design|Packaging design|Strategy|UI design
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9"Not getting paid for the level of experience. Companies would rather consider a designer mid-level, than promote them and have to pay them a senior designer rate."pay [644]27White FemaleDripping Springs, TXCommunication / Graphic design|Illustration|Motion graphics|UI design
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10"I think since there is no definite way to measure design, the pay scale is completely arbitrary and some rely on tenure vs. actual work quality. I have had coworkers who were promoted just for their tenure although their work and teamwork qualities were quite low. Also, people expect designers to look a certain way and since I don't fit that, people assume i'm not capable and/or not creative enough."quality30Asian FemalePasadena, CAResearch|Strategy|UI design|UX design
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11"Design doesn't know how its influencing society and the environment. [...] time spent in social apps means less time spent with meaningful connections. [...] Designers are taking a stand to make ethical decisions because their overlords won't give them the power."change [ taking a stand]
community [social apps]		social media [160] ethics [208] 28White FemaleAustin, TXExperience design|Research|Strategy|UI design|UX design
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12"We are pitting ourselves against each other through: the distinction and competition between graphic design as a whole and UX/UI design/visual design/web design/product design, which creates a false hierarchy of value, propping up some disciplines over others, that translates to not being valued by clients and workplaces; the gender pay gap; being a mostly white industry and therefore defaulting to a white pov in design."white [264] value [825] 44White FemaleWashington, DCCommunication / Graphic design|Education|Social impact design|UI design|UX design
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13"Ethics in design is huge and needs to be the top priority in the industry. Marketing and advertising have long since been about manipulating consumer behaviors and the idea has crept into the experience design world. instead of giving people what they need we try to manipulate users desires and bend them to what we're trying to sell them. It's an insidious practice of controlling people hiding behind a mask of "empowerment"."Change [ethics]ethics [208]28Black MalePlano,TXExperience design|UI design|UX design
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14"Lack of accountability, especially in large tech companies. Giving too much emphasis to design without honest assessments of impact."Change [lack of accountability]tech [280] lack of [1061]33White MaleChicago, ILExperience design|Interaction design|Research|Service design|UX design
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15"Issue: the lack of transparency creative staffing agencies show to freelance designers (and clients). Agencies pay designers 50% of what they charge the client, however our silence is demanded in their contracts, creating an ignorance that affects designers who start their own business [...]."https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/its-time-for-graphic-design-to-embrace-the-radical-potential-of-salary-transparency-%f0%9f%92%b8/pay [644] lack of [1061] FemaleSan Francisco, CACommunication / Graphic design
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16"[...] Who we are designing for. Most designers spend their careers designing for the rich [...] The world could be so much better if we had the means to improve people's lives who need it the most. Sadly those in the most need of great design often don't have the money to pay us and so we whittle our talents away on the frivolous whims of the wealthy while the poor as always continue to suffer."change [improve people's lives who need it the most]https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/for-designers-the-next-political-move-is-turning-words-into-action/pay [644]27White FemaleSalt Lake City, UTAnimation|Communication / Graphic design|Illustration|Motion graphics
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17"As a poc, white managers and directors make it miserable and hurtful to work in the industry. I identify as Asian and I have had the worst last two years of my career of racial inequality. [...]There needs to be more poc in leadership and white people need to be quiet and humble themselves. Also, white people, please stop illustrating or designing things with "ethnic inspiration" and then not consult nor pay anyone in that community. Pay these communities. Reparations in the design world need to be made."representationwhite [264] person of color [88] pay [644]30Asian FemaleChicago, ILCommunication / Graphic design|Environmental design|Illustration
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18"Design has become a highly corporate, sterile field when it is just as creatively impactful as the fine art space. This dynamic leads to exploitation of young designers and artists who know little about inter-industry dynamics and social expectation. [...] The design field is also rife with folks who have no shame in stealing art from independent freelancers[...], rather than research and design their own. Accountability is needed."impact [384]20Black TransCincinnati, OHCommunication / Graphic design|Illustration|Other
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19"A lack of proper credit and attribution in social media. There are numerous "businesses" that are fraudulently getting ahead and making money of off other designer's work. The problem is especially rampant on Instagram."Communitysocial media [160]36White MalePittsburgh, PACommunication / Graphic design|Environmental design|Illustration|Packaging design|Strategy
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20"How it affects our planet, and how we use it to continue to power and support the wheel of wasteful consumerist western culture, whose value has proven to be antithetical to the long term mental and physical health of people and the earth."Quality (value has proven to be)https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/navigating-the-dangers-of-mental-health-as-magazine-trend/consumerism [60]31White FemaleAustin, TXIllustration|UI design|UX design
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21"The lack of diversity in design / tech is paving the way for less accessible and inclusive designs to the point that it's making peoples' lives on a daily basis more toxic and difficult than it would be without technology. Additionally, in my career as a designer i have felt increasingly disposable [...] I am paid less than a junior designer, despite having 7 years of experience [...] It feels like the only way to be respected as a designer is to go into UI / UX or product design, which is annoying and kind of sexist (it's the more technical side of design, and largely male-dominated)."representation [kind of sexist]tech [280] diversity [545]26White FemaleBrooklyn, NYCommunication / Graphic design|Illustration
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22"The commoditization of design is shifting parts of the industry away from being a service, devaluing the role of the designer as an individual, and bringing down wages across the industry. Too many internships and first jobs are unpaid/underpaid. Pricing your work, and yourself, are not taught in design school. Transparency around a designers 'own' worth helps everyone."Change [transparency of worth helps everyone]

Education [pricing your work, and yourself, are not taught in design school]		consumerism [60] pay [644] worth [124] undervalue / devalue [118]36White MaleBrooklyn, NYCommunication / Graphic design|Data science|Education|Illustration
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23"In my position (as a full-time faculty member teaching in a design program), I think the major issue is getting more state/government funding for US universities. There has been a systematic decline in funding for higher education for more than two decades."education [systematic decline in funding for higher education]49Asian FemaleSeattle, WACommunication / Graphic design|Data science|Education|Research|Social impact design
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24"Freelancing has been very eye opening. Self employment taxes are incredibly rough, and the inconsistency of freelancing work is making life very stressful. When I do work with clients, they don't understand the value of having illustrations and good branding, and they almost become hostile when they hear my prices. Being a small town, I can't work locally because no one here wants to pay for quality work because they fail to see the value."quality {they fail to see the value}value [825] freelance [189] quality [260]27White FemaleTraverse City, MICommunication / Graphic design|Illustration|Packaging design|Research
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25"Some entities (e.g. nonprofits, community-based organizations) that could benefit from good communication and design in order to further their impact are also not equipped to access it for financial reasons or lack of awareness. Wouldn't it be great if there were more programs [...] whose goal is to connect the organizations with the potential to do the most good with design and branding professionals that could help them build awareness and achieve their missions?",change {connect the organizations with the potential to do the most good}

community {nonprofits, community-based organizations}		impact [384] 38Latina/Hispanic FemaleAustin, TXCommunication / Graphic design