Global Design Study Reveals Creatives Are Actively Choosing Purpose Over Profit

Illustration 14797844 © Jhanganu | Dreamstime.com

As the world deals with one upset after another, you’re more likely to come across creative projects centered around making it a better place for all. From inclusivity programs to environmental awareness campaigns, health-related PSAs, self-acceptance initiatives, and movements for world peace, it truly seems like aesthetics are the way to communicate messages of all causes.

This outpouring of design activism isn’t just driven by the unexpected changes affecting everyone, but it’s also reflective of the shift in designers’ mindsets when it comes to priorities.

An inspiring study by freelance design marketplace 99designs by Vista backs this up: It validates that freelancers are choosing projects to do with causes they care deeply about, and they’re even rejecting briefs by clients who don’t align with their worldview.

In a survey involving 10,000 freelance designers in 144 countries, the platform discovered that most freelancers (97%) are confident in the power of creatives to generate real social impact, and that 85% find it essential to work with clients who have compatible values. The findings have been published in its annual Design Without Borders: A fresh perspective on freelance report.

“In fact, we’re even seeing this play out in designers’ financial decisions,” notes the marketplace, who interviewed thousands of designers in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa for the study.

Instead of focusing on the money, 40% of freelance designers surveyed said they have turned down offers in the past year due to clients’ opposing views on social issues.

What’s also uplifting is that a significant percentage (68%) of participants noted more flexible work arrangements by clients and agencies, who are now more willing to work with freelance talent as opposed to before the pandemic. As a result, most designers (71%) are expecting a rise in their income this year, despite being more cautious about the projects they take on.

In their selectiveness, more than half (60%) of the freelance designers have enjoyed improved work-life balance in the past year. The majority of global creatives (78%) have also used their downtime in the past half-year to pick up new skills that could help them better prepare for more unexpected changes.

“With their optimism, upskilling and appetite for social activism, freelance designers are positioning themselves to make an even greater impact in 2022,” says the platform. The full report can be found here.

Click to view enlarged version

Click to view enlarged version. Image courtesy of 99designs by Vista

[via 99designs by Vista, images via various sources]