Crear con conciencia: Ética práctica para el trabajo creativo comprometido

by Kelly Small, Miguel Cisneros Perales (Translator), Carmen Hernández Bordas (Editor)

En un mundo marcado por la ferocidad capitalista puede parecer difícil, si no imposible, vivir acorde a nuestros principios sin renunciar a tener un trabajo debidamente remunerado. Le diseñadore y directore creative Kelly Small, en base a su larga trayectoria y a una crisis ética que le llevó a reformular su profesión, nos muestra cómo alcanzar una práctica creativa ética a partir de abandonar juicios innecesarios y orientarnos hacia la acción. A través de las más de 100 acciones propuestas en este libro ―personales, económicas, sociales y medioambientales―, Kelly Small nos invita a asumir nuestra responsabilidad como cómplices de un sistema desigual y dejar que sea finalmente nuestra conciencia ética la que guíe nuestras decisiones y propósitos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Business, Personal Development, Creative, Self Help

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

KELLY SMALL (they/them) is an award-winning creative director, designer, educator, and author whose career is driven by the pursuit of practical action toward ethical, inclusive, and sustainable futures. Founder of creative agency Intents & Purposes, professor of design ethics with the School of Design at George Brown College, and affiliated design researcher with Emily Carr University, Kelly holds an interdisciplinary master’s in design and received the Governor General’s Gold Medal for their research into the ethics of commercial creative practice. Kelly is currently authoring a book about practical ethics for a youth audience and serving on the board of directors for The ArQuives, the largest LGBTQ2+ archives in the world.

Reviews

[Kat Vellos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put this book by Kelly Small on your bookshelf where the design industry's non-existent code of ethics should be. Read it. Give it to design students and design schools. Give it to your friends who get excited about their new jobs at ethically questionable companies.

And honestly, The Conscious Creative is not just for designers, it’s also relevant for marketers, content writers, advertisers, founders, and anyone who works as part of buying and selling in a capitalist world.

This vital book makes a clear and compelling argument about why creatives need to make a non-negotiable commitment to ethics, and it’s filled with numerous, accessible strategies for how to put those ethics into action.

I'm so excited that I got to read an advance pre-release copy of this book and even more excited for it to get out and in the hands of the people who need to take action on these words now and every day of our future.

— Kat Vellos, designer, facilitator and author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships

[Kelly Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s my book, so I recommend!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, this is a guide for folks in creative industries—marketing, graphic/digital/product design, etc.—who are concerned about the impact of their work on the wider world. Small writes a lot about choosing and working with clients, so their message seems especially aimed at and appropriate for freelancers.

The tone is conversational and lighthearted, yet professional and intelligent. It's clear that Small has done their research and is intimately familiar with their industry's climate. I also greatly appreciated how aware and inclusive their advice is, acknowledging and addressing racism, sexism, gender identity and expression, transphobia, ableism, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and more.

Throughout, Small emphasizes the importance and potential cumulative impact of small actions, but simultaneously reminds us that we're all doing our best and that it's imperative to care for ourselves so that we don't get burned out. It is often a privilege even to be able to focus on the effects of creative work in this way, as an ethical conscience sometimes leads to a decrease in income for someone in this field.

I heartily recommend this guidebook. Small's words will likely be encouraging, empowering, and reassuring for anyone who works in marketing, design, or any other creative career.

(Thank you to House of Anansi Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC)

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I consider this kind of book a “gift book”: compact, written in feel-good snippets, of the moment, not tightly edited, possibly meant to be inclusive of people who don’t like to read books. All of the hot, designerly ethics topics are here, including self-care and overall massaging of discomfort. I found this book less helpful for navigating action (and not at all helpful for navigating positionality, even with all of the definitions of privilege-related vocabulary) but maybe more helpful as a snapshot of how design is packaging ethics in 2021.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The design industry is a global trade that is unregulated. It can be a little bit of a wild west when it comes to ethical standards for copyright, plagiarism, equality, and salaries. This book was written to offer creatives over 100 suggestions of ways to contribute to a better way of working that will ultimately have a positive impact.

I read this with my graphic design book club, and author Kelly Small was present at our online discussion. It was great to hear their motivation for writing this book after working in the industry for years, and their passion for making change.

This book is well designed and the information is written in a casual way that is fun and accessible. There are clever illustrations and charts included, some of which I wouldn’t mind having as posters in my office! I have many post-its and notes throughout, so I can use this as a reference book now.

[Dara Gellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the first page. Kelly writes with such an inclusive and inviting tone that I am carried from page to page as if in a conversation with a friend (a very insightful, deeply thoughtful, highly educated, mindful friend at that!). I found myself making mental notes with each page turned, feeling both invited into new content that I wasn't familiar with and also vibing with the resonance of familiar topics. Kelly's commitment to inclusivity shines through on every page, and made me think about my own writing practice in that light. I especially identified with their struggle with existential angst in relation to creative practice, and I feel especially inspired that it's possible to struggle through and with these thoughts AND do something that moves creative practice forward, that one action at a time, one step at a time indeed makes a difference. While I am a "creative" myself, I'm not in in the world of design or advertising, and despite that fact I found that all of the thinking in this vital tome can be overlayed onto one's own creative practice, whatever that is. All this to say that this is an essential book for anyone working in the creative world who is thinking about their relationship to their own work, to others, and to wider communities, and by that I mean everyone! All of that, and chocolate (you'll know what I mean when you read the book!)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a business owner, online community leader and content creator, the timing of this book was seriously divine. Kelly spoke of an internal crisis in the book and I could relate. This is the year I realized much of what I grew up believing is actually false, and it tossed me violently. This book along with others, long hard days of reflection, realizations, hard conversations and shedding a lot of “weight” with better boundaries - it all made a ton of light bulbs go off and give me hope again.

I still have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t think I ever will. Does anyone though? But I have the courage to keep trying and to do better. This book is like a guide for my team, my businesses and myself. It gives a really excellent check and balance. Like - have we considered this? Have we tried this? Are we properly crediting this? All the things.

Thank you.

Sarah Swain
CEO, The Great Canadian Woman™️ inc.
CEO, ENTREFLIX™️

[Shannon Minifie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Conscious Creative: Practical Ethics for Purposeful Work, Small challenges “conscious creatives” everywhere to permeate our work—hindered and/or tainted as it is by the seemingly immovable forces of capitalism—with an ethical dimension that is committed to affecting change in any way we can. Helpfully structured in four sections that outline different courses of action (personal, economic, social, and environmental), Small offers up ways (big and small) to be conscious and seek justice without having to just throw up our hands and Walden it. Funny and in no way sanctimonious, Small not only acknowledges but actually insists upon the inevitability of our complicity in systems that are all but impossible for us to get outside of—and so they suggest ways we might transform them from the inside out.

[Giovanni Petrucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a designer myself, I've gone through a very similar trajectory as Kelly. Having experienced both sides of the creative coin so to speak (agency / self-employed), I have been searching for purpose and meaning in my own work beyond creating materials to sell things to people they don't need. The book is a straightforward guide on how to implement small and larger tactics to your practice (starting today). They perfectly summed up what I'd been wanting to express and achieve in my own work in a way that is accessible, authentic and relatable. We all want to go beyond just creating art - we want to change society, move it forward, all while staying true to ourselves. This book helps creatives achieve exactly that. Thank you, Kelly.

[Shruti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you have a creative practice or any kind of practice; especially one that is involved in the production for human consumption, then this guide is for you. The Conscious Creative was missing from my formative years as a Designer, but it is here now and I'm thrilled.

Small condenses the 'standards to live and grow by' into bite sized chunks, easy to access and assimilate. There is something in here for everyone and I highly recommend it.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone struggling to reconcile their personal values with their work!

[Erin Abbatangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absoutely loved this book. Kelly is a brilliant writer with a refreshing approach to her craft. Highly recommend this book for all. A must read.

[Annie Passanisi Ruggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is JAM-PACKED with wonderful insights and dozens of practical tools to help creatives foster ethical communities, products, services, and rules. It is thoroughly researched, incredibly inclusive, and sooooo helpful when it comes to defining the challenges and resources available on everything from intersectionality to fair trade to accessibility. I highly highly recommend it not only for creatives working within larger companies, but to all who are hoping to bring ethics, integrity, and values into their business in an actionable, loud way.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes a list of things one can do to create a code of ethics. These include acknowledging your role in the system (economic actions) and consuming climate content ( environment actions). The advice is sound and it is true that one does need to create one's own perspective and practice of continuous improvement in a code of ethics. I was disappointed however because I thought this book would be more practical than theoretical. I was expecting advice and experience for dealing with the rationalizations and counter incentives for the status quo. Something like Giving Voice to Values but with Kelly Small's professional experience and insights for those with boots on the ground who lack role models. The book didn't offer that.

[Em PH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly Small has done a fantastic job of starting a dialogue around some contentious issues while presenting practical solutions and actions for creatives seeking to make social impact in their work. It's a one of a kind book and a welcome new subject in design literature. I don't agree with some of the point of views and premises presented (ex: capitalism is bad), but Small leaves plenty of room for opposing viewpoints and never comes across as condescending or snarky which is possibly the greatest feat of this book. A great read for young and old, naive and cynical, liberal and conservative folks to explore some current social topics and how they relate to the world of professional creatives.

[Ashley Ainslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow creative, I could not wait to fix my eyes and my mind on this book. Having faced several circumstances where my morals and ethics have come into question, I found a tremendous amount of value in the detailed information (and humour!) outlined in this read. I have already set forth many of the suggestions Kelly has offered and I look forward to a continual pattern of being more mindful and purposeful in my work and daily life. I would highly recommend this read to anyone in the creative industry but also those seeking to ultimately just do better in their daily practice. A massive thank you to Kelly for sharing with us this incredibly insightful book!

[Leslie Ehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh how I wish I’d had Kelly Small’s book back when I was an advertising Creative Director! As someone who often railed against unethical practices and was too often given the side-eye for speaking my truth aloud, The Conscious Creative would have given me literal page references to point to and shout “SEE?! There IS a better way!!”. This book is a how-to work in the world of creative commerce without losing your heart, soul and good sense.

Every single human aspiring to use their creative talents for both good and gain needs to have a copy on their desk as a reference and reminder that we do our best work while being good doing it. Consider this your Tao of Soulful Creativity.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is fairly new to the design industry, this book was a blessing and will continue to be a regular reference for me moving forward in my career! Each section is clear and concise, broken down into often one or two pages. Throughout the book Kelly Small gives actionable advice to unlearn the pressures of capitalism and go 'beyond the money' as a creative.

Kelly Small is also a fantastic author and has the gift of writing in such a friendly manner (without compromising the legitimacy of their research) that it seems like they're talking to me directly.

Overall, a transformative book that I will actively recommend to anyone in the industry!

[Amir Taba · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received "The Conscious Creative" as a gift. Overall I found the book a compact summary of daily advises we receive here and there. In my opinion, the book lacks the standard framework of a non-fiction book in which a thesis/idea is introduced.
The book explains obvoius stuff about ethics and why we should be a good person/creator. It does not address common biases in everyday life and how it affects the ethical work we're committed to.
In essence, the book gives some practical suggestions to be implied in any (capitalist) workplace. However, the author does not include the case studies within the chapters for her ideas. When you say "it is proven", you need to explain how it has been measured and proved. A little reference to an entire book is not helpful in understanding this "proof".
Although I agree with many of the actions, considering the lack of scientific reference, these suggestions sound like preaching.
A few suggestions sounds a bit impractical, in my opinion. Especially when you're a newly graduated creator looking to build up your network in order to create per ypur ethical values. The following suggestion may not work for you: "your corporation does not stand up with your values, quit and start a freelance work". Not sure how practical it is, where the purpose of the book is to be universal in each work environment.

[Kevin]

As I contemplated Kelly Small's The Conscious Creative, I thought, "Well, yeah, I know this already." Then, reading over the reviews here, I was reminded of the importance of a book like this. If I may quote another reviewer: "Put this book by Kelly Small on your bookshelf where the design industry's non-existent code of ethics should be." (Kat Vellos) Additionally, a book like this is written because Small saw a need to say all of this in one well-written concise book because it all needs to be said loud and clear.

I'm still relatively new to the creative field as I move beyond the walls of academia and teaching college history courses. Ideas of inclusivity and being mindful of a variety of perspectives and backgrounds comes with the territory when you teach American history in 2023, but that doesn't enshrine them everywhere and that's what makes Small's book so important.

The book itself is well-organized, well-written, and engaging. Small understands the landscape they are discussing and has the background and perspectives to write this book in this historical moment. A book like this sparks conversations and connections that might not happen on their own, and that is the power here.

[Arlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book for people who already have businesses. The audience is middle class white women who don't want to feel guilty about racism and the environment, but don't actually want to do anything concrete about it. If you fit into that category, and haven't read much in the way of antiracism, queer rights, or environmentalism, this book might be a nice stepping stone in. Otherwise, it reads like it was written ten years ago, not 2021. I didn't learn any new ways to practice my art ethically, or to profit from it. Disappointing.

[Lisa Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my wish list for a long time, although I never got a chance to look inside. If I could have done that, I might not have wished for it anymore. The book is not really intended to be read, but almost like a general conscious encyclopedia. I would have simply wished for more stories and also more approaches for a designer. Also as person who tries to live conscious on a daily basis, I already knew most of the Facts.

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an empty void soulless robot from being in the business it woulda been nice to know this about 20 years ago.

Oh well back to my rendering of the nicotine Triple leaded mercury big oil sponsored baby mouth and eye products.

Read this book or build a fancy armour of emotional scars. Both work.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential and hopeful guide on ethical practice as a creator. Even though there's a focus on the advertising profession, I believe this book is far reaching and addresses concerns also relevant to all creative industries. I read this book looking for guidance as a writer and small press publisher and I'll continue to return to it for reference and inspiration.

[ToBoldlyGoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This serves as a decent primer on ethical issues that come up in a capitalist workplace, but it reads more as a generalized guide to lifestyle activism (vote! buy reusable straws! don’t stereotype! grow your own food so you can afford to turn down unethical clients…??) instead of providing advice specific to creative work.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more geared at people working in advertising and design, in offices. I didn't feel like some of it applied to me, but it was still interesting to consider ethics in my work.

[Thomas Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As books become beautiful and newly functional things, and perhaps the lasting "physical" in our digital world, Kelly's book puts itself at the forefront of this shift, a novel book in our new age.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All of the opinions given are my own and have been given nothing for my review.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that should be on every creative professional's bookshelf - it's a great succinct reference/reminder for how we can all live and work in more ethical, anti-racist, feminist, etc ways.

[Branden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-own for every person in the world who creates things.