A Designer’s Code of Ethics.
Reading Mike Monteiro's "A Designer's Code of Ethics" was a quietly transformative experience. It prompted a slow-burning, introspective examination of my own practice that was less a sudden shock and more a fundamental reorientation of my perspective.
This realization prompted a period of quiet unease. I began to retrospectively evaluate past projects not just on their technical or aesthetic merits, but on their ethical dimensions. There was that e-commerce feature designed to encourage impulse purchases, or the social media interface that prioritized endless scrolling. While not overtly malicious, I had to acknowledge their potential for unintended consequences. This wasn't about assigning blame, but about acknowledging my own agency in systems much larger than myself. It was a sobering acknowledgment that "just following a brief" is an inadequate defense when the work contributes to societal issues like addictive technology or overconsumption.
However, this initial disquiet gradually gave way to a sense of clarity and purpose. Monteiro's code provides a practical, structured framework for navigating these very dilemmas. I found particular resonance in the principle that "A designer is a citizen first." This elegantly recontextualizes the designer's role. It positions us not merely as service providers, but as stakeholders in our shared society. This perspective is empowering; it offers a solid foundation for conversations that might otherwise feel confrontational. It allows one to frame a concern not as a refusal to do the work, but as a professional obligation to consider its wider impact.
This shift in thinking also brought a new dimension to the concept of value in design. My value is no longer solely tied to my ability to create visually appealing or highly functional work. It is increasingly tied to my capacity for critical thinking and ethical foresight. The most skillful design solution becomes a net negative if it deceives, manipulates, or harms its users. Therefore, cultivating this ethical awareness isn't a constraint on creativity, but a necessary component of professional rigor and maturity.
In the end, Monteiro's work didn't provide simple answers, but it did offer a much-needed compass. It has instilled in me a more questioning attitude. Now, at the outset of any project, I find myself automatically considering a new set of questions: What are the potential long-term effects of this design? Have we genuinely considered the needs of the most vulnerable user? Does this work, on balance, contribute something positive? For me, "A Designer's Code of Ethics" is a lasting reminder that true expertise in design is not just about how we build things, but why we build them and for whom.
The typographic and colour choices in Mike Monteiro's "A Designer's Code of Ethics" are not merely aesthetic; they are fundamental to creating a digital experience that embodies the manifesto's core principles: clarity, authority, seriousness, and accessibility.
My goal was to Create an engaging digital experiences using only typography, colour, and space — no images or icons. That means the focus is entirely on the fundamental elements of design - type, space, and colour.
This project explores how typography and colour alone can create engaging, aesthetically pleasing digital experiences. Without relying on images or icons, we focus entirely on the fundamental elements of design: type, space, and colour.
The pairing of Playfair Display & Inter, and the palette of light blue, black, white, and cool grey, work together to create that engaging and aesthetically pleasing experience:
Playfair Display (for headings) - Playfair is a "Display" serif, meaning it is designed for large sizes and short text. Its high contrast (thick/thin strokes) and elegant, open letterforms evoke a sense of classicism, authority, and weight.
The psychological impact is that it frames the content as a timeless document, a manifesto, or a formal contract. It commands respect and attention, visually signifying that these are not mere suggestions but foundational principles. The elegance also adds a touch of craft and humanity, preventing the tone from becoming purely mechanical.
Inter, used for the body text, is a highly legible, geometric, open-source sans-serif typeface. It is the workhorse of the design—neutral, clean, transparent, and optimized for screen reading. Its primary job is clarity and accessibility. It does not draw attention to itself, allowing the reader to focus entirely on the content of the ethical tenets. This reflects the code's demand for unambiguous communication and user-centered thinking. As an open-source font, it also subtly aligns with the document's ethos of accessibility and community over proprietary systems.
The contrast between elegant, authoritative Playfair and neutral, clear Inter creates a perfect visual and conceptual hierarchy. Playfair draws our attention to the importance of his message which can be considered as the rule of design itself. Inter mirrors a bold, declarative statement followed by a plainspoken, actionable explanation. The pairing is sophisticated but not necessarily trendy, reinforcing the code's intent to be lasting and substantial.
Black and White are the foundational, non-negotiable colours. They create maximum contrast for optimal readability, which is the first rule of ethical and accessible design. The psychological impact is that of a serious, stark, and definitive canvas. Black text on white is the standard for legibility, conveying "truth," "clarity," and "no-nonsense." It removes any distractions, forcing the focus onto the words themselves.
The overall effect is a stark wake-up call. It seeks to shatter any naivete about the innocence of design work and replace it with a sobering understanding of the designer's role and power in society.
Monteiro's strong belief fuels the urgency and confrontation. He does not present his code as a series of suggestions but as a non-negotiable foundation for the profession. This generates a mood of authority and moral clarity. He is providing a firm stance for designers to stand on when faced with unethical demands. The Key driver here is how he puts it Authoritatively and clearly, e.g., "A designer must...", "A designer shall not...". This structure reinforces the resoluteness of the message.
The undercurrent anger is palpable, but it is a focused and righteous fury. It is not mere tirade; it is the fuel for his argument. This anger is directed at the harm caused by irresponsible design and the obvious ignorance of the industry.
In short, the mood is that of a fiery sermon or a manifesto—designed to agitate, awaken, and mobilize its readers toward a more responsible and humane practice. It is angry at the current state of affairs but hopeful about the potential for change.