Design deserves more respect

The quest for worthiness in the name of the world’s most universal form of communication

Designers complain about many things — not getting paid enough, nobody listening to us, or people mistaking us for artists, to name a few. Interestingly, many of these gripes stem from a lack of design respect — sometimes as a profession, but more notably, as a form of communication and problem-solving.

Respect is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. In this case, we should distinguish between a lack of respect for an individual and a lack of respect for what that individual represents.

Many designers are highly respected for their quality work, professional ethics, and leadership skills. However, very few can say their bosses, colleagues, or clients truly respect the fundamental nature and depth of design.

So, whose fault is this? It is easy to point fingers at clients, businesses, and stakeholders for being ignorant. But the truth is designers are partly responsible for design’s shortage of respect.

How many languages can you speak? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 21.6% of people in the U.S. speak more than one language. But when it comes to perceiving design, most people consciously or subconsciously understand it.

Design is a universal language that communicates ideas and feelings without words. Skilled designers use this language to create visual narratives, evoke emotion, or convey messages using shapes, colors, imagery, and other elements.

Combined with our knowledge of design principles such as hierarchy, proportion, white space, etc., we can create a powerful and versatile form of communication — making design a unique language easily understood by a broad audience.

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