Designers should be realistic about the influence they have

In relation to designers’ ethics and responsibilities (Private View, DW 16 April), we need to be realistic about how much influence we actually have before we pontificate on our responsibilities.

Am I alone in discerning a tendency for ethically concerned designers to exaggerate the impact of their work?

We should also credit consumers with some brains. To assume that consumers take our work as seriously as we do is silly.

Darryl Brown (Letters, DW 23 April) denounces designers working for tobacco firms. Adults decide whether or not to smoke, and then make a decision on what brand. Designers only have influence over the latter choice. So why fret over encouraging smoking when we have no sway over the decision?

Kevin McCullagh

Design Agenda

Kevin@design-agenda.org.uk