Design Code of Ethics
To communicate eloquently is the human intrinsic attribute; it is the voice of his consciousness, the reflection of his mind and the shape of his soul. This makes of communication a vast yet delicate concept to judge. Therefore, the approach of evaluation must be flexible yet grounded. Flexible, so it embraces all possibilities, and grounded to assign an order. Moreover, visual communication addresses additional issues to calculate, because communication is the sum of the message and its medium; meaning, both -means and ends- are subject to criticism.
In Islam, the truth, to say/tell/speak the truth is the base for any just judgment, big or small. The differentiation between morality and ethics hardly exists; since any given ethics are subject to the whole moral system.
This being said, ethics are merely a justification sieve of what we encounter, and as Graphic Designers (Visual Communicators), we encounter two ends at the same time; which adds a level of complexity into the equation. Nevertheless, I can only justify a message when I believe it is what Allah wants, or it is not what He prohibits. By saying this I'm also saying ethics are universal and changeable according to circumstances. The reason behind this fact is what Allah has ordered cannot conflict with what He has created. Faith is actually a comprehension in practice of a moral system.
The moral system in Islam is -fundamentally- the responsibility attained by the freedom of a choice; i.e., you are free to choose and in charge of this choice. As a Graphic Designer, I am responsible for what I say (visually), for how I am speaking it, for the intentions behind it, for the ends after it. But, is it ever "grey"? It is only grey due to the limitations I am bounded by. Am I responsible for these limitations? Yes, and no. I am responsible for the boundaries I am able to break, and free of charge when I can not.