Invested in engaging data from the richness of professional experiences in design work and client-related undertakings, data gathering involved focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews of selected Filipino graphic designers. This is then supported by case studies taking off from the topics discussed in the FGD and in-depth interviews. To address possible sensitivities, the researcher has obtained informed consent to disclose details of the case studies.

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Focus Group Discussion

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For this research, the FGDs were conducted to gather information from the reactions and responses of each designer to the experiences of his/her colleagues. The discussions revolved around the prevailing and contested discourses on designers seeing themselves as artists, professionals, and partners or collaborators.

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To acquire comparative results, the researcher organized the following FGDs with two sets of respondents.

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• FGD with Employed Graphic Designers: Eight graphic designers who are currently employed in private firms or corporate industries in Manila were invited. This group represented those designers who are engaged with corporations that tend to be restrictive of their artistry. The negotiation dynamics in their workplace assumed to be unilateral and/or structured based on corporate protocols and demands.

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• FGD with Freelance Graphic Designers: Seven graphic designers who are self-employed or freelancers based in Manila were invited.  These designers deal with individual/non-corporate clients who seek designing services for their personal or family entrepreneurial endeavors.

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Interviews

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Five “seasoned” or senior graphic designers participated in the in-depth interviews. They are considered seasoned based on their 1) active involvement and association with Graphika Manila, 2) list of high profile clients, 3) their online marketing visibility, 4) years of experience in the industry. As such, they are authorities in the field of graphic design as evidenced by their numerous speaking engagements, referrals and popularity among Filipino graphic designers. Inputs from senior graphic designers captured the evolution of the profession and surfaced the designers’ experience of dealing with multiple clients locally and globally. Their varied experiences revealed different characteristics of design negotiation, such as their willingness to let go of personal artistry to meet client requests, considering their reputation and status in the industry. Further, because most seasoned graphic designers have their own design companies, the research was able to generate insights from the perspective of those owning or managing their own graphic design team.

 

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