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The recent turn of the list towards this discussion - of why designers are so protectionist - for want of a better term - might have something to do with daily life as a designer. Everybody knows better than a designer how something should look! (meaning our colleagues - and not the User here - heaven forbid) In fact, I would like to ask anyone on this list who has paid for their mortgage by 'colouring-in'; (my generic black and white terminology for being a designer), what their own experiences are? It is extremely frustrating, creating designs and concepts, models and prototypes, to have the aesthetics modified by somebody with the dress sense of a ...."fill in your own blank here". Kitchens are the best example - how any designer ever gets a kitchen designed - is beyond me. I positively refuse to help friends with the design of their houses - after some fairly dismal attempts to help in the past. I am honestly sure it is not just personal arrogance. It seems that when I have suggested something, and made a visual presentation - they have always gone 180 degrees in the other direction. The old adage that we "only value that which we pay for" is of of validity in this case. Even worse, was when I had just left design college. A presentation to a local shop owner - at their bequest - resulted in no payment and the salutary words - you can use our name to get more work. Ha - what encouragement! Imagine my surprise, when the shop fitting company installed my work - with slight modification. Then there is the ego issue. The work you present to a client is your soul, your very reason for existing, your personality and talent all wrapped up in a few sketches. The very reason - that you are not the kind of person paying for such abilities. A life not filled with drudgery - just colouring-in and hoping it works. It is no wonder designers develop an ego 'skin' to protect themselves. The more artistic the design field - tending to create a stronger ego to help protect these core and deeply personal issues. When some incredibly talentless and dull business individual rips into a designer's work - what effect do you think they have on the designer? It is almost as if they are destroying that person's soul. If you are not a designer - I'll argue here that you cannot really understand this point. If we gazed into the designer's brain as their work was getting castigated we might find the following thoughts: "You imbecilic talentless buffoon, only the fact that your father owns the business is why you are here. How can I take this crap from this moron? etc, etc." Please remember that at this point the designer is smiling graciously, might be scowling, or has picked up all the paper and walked out in a huff. But as professionals - that is what we have to take. Often working for free to secure further work, or struggling to get the printed word accurately reflecting on who actually did the designing. (more pain) We also seem to have forgotten some basic English verbs: Organising Programming Composing Creating Writing Developing Painting Sculpting Drawing Sketching Laying Out Modifying All of these words can be used for what the majority of folks do everyday. Yes, all of them, skirt on the edge of design - and are creative. But when we say we are 'designing an organisation' and not simply 'organising a business or group' we are modifying the terminology to our own ends. Finally, the question of designers keeping this protected act of design to themselves. What is really wrong with Frank Lloyd Wright having no interest in letting others know how he did something? Do other professionals such as lawyers and accountants readily spill the beans without a charge? Are we as professionals bound to a socialist cause? By the way - I will use that shop's name - Carmichael's of Beverley. After all these years - it feels a lot better out than in. This email will be easy to dismiss on this list. It is an honest and sincere attempt to describe how at least one designer feels. GJ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity(s) to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure under law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail and delete the original message from your computer. Thank you