subject: Ethics In Web Design [print this page] Every business or profession demands individuals to also take into consideration the ethical aspect of running it. While these arent necessarily written rules, they are unspoken and commonly practiced norms or principles which one chooses to practice or ignore depending on ones own perception of what is right and what is wrong.
While you conduct business you will notice that what may seem right for you may be a complete no-no for another. It eventually all boils down to your personal perception and conscience towards what makes you sleep well at night.
When Website Designing Meets Ethics
When one talks about internet portal designing and development, there are a few non-defined lines that are unspoken but understood within the industry. While you may come across your fair share of designers who tend to pretend that they follow an ethical code of conduct but in reality, are victims of convenience.
Here are some major ethical errors that designers mustnt commit at any cost
1. There are a number of web design professionals who claim their expertise on the basis of stealing someone elses design and stating its their own. While some avoid using other peoples creations in their portfolio, professionals with a weaker conscience do not think twice before they make minor changes and pass them off as their own.
2. While this more a question of quality in service delivery than ethics, it is also usually considered back design practice to provide a client with a design that is hard to maintain or update. This is especially unethical, if it is done with an intention of signing on a maintenance contract with the client to juice out more income.
3. A stringent code of ethics and level of transparency needs to be maintained about how you will be billing your clients. It is wrong especially in scenarios where a design expert takes advantage of the clients lack of knowledge on the internet, design and development industry.
4. A number of designers also charge their clients rates for original designs and eventually offer them template based designs which most clients may not even realize the difference between.
5. There are a number of designers who are less conscious about meeting the web standards. Most clients dont know such standards exist, and by the time they are informed of the non-compliance, it often happens that the designer is not longer in the picture anymore.
While the market is full of design experts who follow ethical design and business practices to ensure quality service delivery, there are a fair share of professionals who bring down the name of the industry. As a client it is important that you find for yourself a well known and reliable designer who will be able to help you represent your brand as effectively as possible on the World Wide Web.
As a professional, it is up to you to decide the path you wish to take and understand the eventually it is the truth that prevails.
