![[Image: DK Holland]](/database/images/display/sb4beb087a5a71c.jpg "Where our wild things are by DK Holland")
This second part of a two-part series written by DK Holland for Communication Arts magazine discusses the varying approaches and opinions surrounding design ethics, from work for hire to unsustainable design.
About 20 years ago, a 30-something graphic designer, a leader in the profession no less, scoffed at me, "Why do we need to talk about ethics? You either have them or you don't." But ethics is neither black nor white. The whole point is, there is no easy, good choice. Did this designer speak for the profession? Perhaps. Fast-forward twenty years. At no time has a working understanding of ethics been more essential because it is so lacking.
Since professional ethics is about fair and balanced decision-making, ideally that means good ethical thinking promotes the overall health of the community (e.g., practitioners, clients and the public). Therefore you may do something that is totally legal and yet quite unethical if it is unfair to part of the community.
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![[Image: First place winner of the 21st International poster and graphic arts festival of Chaumont International Competition, Ralph Schraivogel]](http://www.icograda.org/database/images/display/sb4c06bf97ce747.jpg "First place winner of the 21st International poster and graphic arts festival of Chaumont International Competition, Ralph Schraivogel")
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First place winner of the 21st International poster and graphic arts festival of Chaumont International Competition, Ralph Schraivogel.
Source: www.chaumont-graphisme.com![[Image: Optimism: Icograda Design Week Brisbane 2010 identity]](http://www.icograda.org/database/images/display/sb4c0667287374d.jpg "Optimism: Icograda Design Week Brisbane 2010")
