Comments on: Ethical or Unethical?

By: PixieGirl Blog | My World Through Graphic Design

PixieGirl Blog | My World Through Graphic Design — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:46:37 +0000

[...] I was reading Ethical or Unethical? which poses the question of how ethical it is for your full time boss to ask to show your freelance [...]

By: Marnie B

Marnie B — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:46:35 +0000

Oh! Only just saw this post. Didn’t realise all of the answers got compiled.

Some great responses!

By: web entrepreneur

web entrepreneur — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:04:52 +0000

I was in exactly this situation. In order to keep my job and be a good soldier, I reluctantly capitulated to this requirement.

By: MyInkTrail: Best of the Web, December 2008 | My Ink Blog

MyInkTrail: Best of the Web, December 2008 | My Ink Blog — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:52:58 +0000

[...] Ethical or Unethical? A design community discussion on the ethics of using a personal portfolio to benefit a design [...]

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:30:52 +0000

I was in exactly this situation. In order to keep my job and be a good soldier, I reluctantly capitulated to this requirement. But first, I called the client for whom I did the work and asked permission, which was refused. My boss, the Director of Creative Services for this huge, multinational company, used the pieces anyway! He pulled the same thing with another designer, whose personal portfolio displayed so much more talent than he possessed that it was obvious that the work wasn’t even his. Mr. Man put it in our book anyway, and up on our walls as well. Now, get this: when they laid me off after seven and a half years devotion to the company, they wanted me to sign a severance agreement that said that I could not use any work I did for the company in my own portfolio! Now out of work and needing a job, I had to hire a lawyer and waste six months fighting to have that one paragraph changed, before I could legally show my book to anyone! So, no, this is not ethical, and one should regard such a requirement with great suspicion.

By: Best of the Web – December 2008 | zbStudio.net

Best of the Web – December 2008 | zbStudio.net — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:12:25 +0000

[...] Visit Article [...]

By: brian

brian — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:01:35 +0000

though I don not think I would do it myself, I see nothing wrong with a company putting a “what our employees have done” or just simply link to their employee portfolio sites… but to claim it as their own is definitely straddling the line between ethical and unethical

By: Best of the Web – December 2008 - VECTORTUTS

Best of the Web – December 2008 - VECTORTUTS — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:27:17 +0000

[...] Visit Article [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:33:27 +0000

If the Graphic Designer’s personal portfolio is so good?…why did he apply to work at an agency? He should be doing it himself.

By: Ethics, Transparency, and Talk Is Cheap Around The Web

Ethics, Transparency, and Talk Is Cheap Around The Web — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:37:42 +0000

[...] Interesting conversation going on @ Fuel Your Creativity. [...]

By: Kimberly Bock

Kimberly Bock — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:13:03 +0000

The fact of the matter is, there is very little accountability in marketing. The idea of it is a facade & a mindset that we can’t afford to expand upon. Facades have been allowed far too much and ultimately that mindset is counterproductive in humankind.

If one thing is allowed, then what’s next?

It’s an ethical FAIL.

By: Causechat: Design- Ethics In Design | thecauseisthehabit.com

Causechat: Design- Ethics In Design | thecauseisthehabit.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:33:43 +0000

[...] 14:58 @ADELLECHARLES Topic will be Ethics In Design (and you can read this post if your early —> http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/ethical-or-unethical/ [...]

By: Joann Sondy

Joann Sondy — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:29:27 +0000

Not enough information to make an accurate decision. Case study does not indicate whether or not the employee’s portfolio includes agency samples. This would be key to the discussion. Plus, any legal arrangement about the employee using the agency/client samples in their portfolio should also be considered.

Now, with all that out of the way. I think ethical / unethical is a misplaced argument. This doesn’t have anything to do with morals or morality. May I suggest: respectable.

The principal of the agency can ask (which is probably out of line) and the employee has the right of refusal (taking into consideration that the portfolio does NOT include any agency samples).

By: Douglas Neiner

Douglas Neiner — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:59:38 +0000

@Mysty… you bring up a wonderful point! I have a great salesperson representing my business, and there is a lot of truth to what you have said. I know he prefers to have portfolio work to share, but I don’t think he is dependent on it.

By: devolute

devolute — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:58:59 +0000

I've been in a similar situation; but only with a small agency. I think in that case it is (and was) ethical. If it's a big agency, then I think it's totally different. devolute´s last blog post..Apple’s environmental policy shown again to be a sham