the value of voluntary standards

Over the past year, many people have asked, commented and argued that any form of voluntary design certification would have no use, benefit or relevance, that designers are not interested in standards and parameters that are not imposed by law or required for their job. The repeating statement has been: “if it's not mandatory, then why do it?” I have not wavered in my belief that a voluntary, self-motivated and transparent system of standards can aid in strengthening our industry and pushing for a deeper understanding of the value of professional designers. To heighten relationship between designers and our client and the emphasize the significance of design thinking over design software.

I want to present B Corporations as a tangible example of unified individuals working to further a higher commitment with business and the general public. Corporation spaning 24 countries and more than 60 industries have united with one common goal:

to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems [and] meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

If there is doubt of the viability of promoting standards, not for individual profit or gain, but for the benefit of the whole communications design industry, these 600+ corporations can guide us and become a paragon for the change possible through independent and collective action.

Learn about the real value of a B Corporation.