the role of designer

The Designer sits in their comfortable office, happily preparing a Nike advertisement. Never once have they thought about the shoes they happily design for.

The digital png of “Air Max” mens shoes has never had to be produced by human hands. The seams are not real, never sewn by an exploited worker in a factory.

This is nothing out of the ordinary. This is what we have done as designers since the days we first designed. Tools of industry, pens for the ruling class, entities of global consumerism, we have perpetuated capitalism and its systems.

What does an escape from this look like for our Designer?

Will they ever pack up their office and leave, sickened by the company in which they work?

Could they ever make a decision like that without first having the security of a comfortable home and warm food set out for them? 

When that time comes, The Designer notices they are chained to the desk.

Human instinct, the need to break free. The Designer struggles for a while in vain. Eventually they give up. There is a family waiting for them, a good life of comfort and conformity. It’s not like they’ve seen the exploitation firsthand.

Besides, they are just a designer for Nike. It’s not actually the designer who should be held accountable.

The moment of critical thought passes as the machine in front of them hums. The designer rests their hands on the mouse and keyboard, and returns to work.