Can good design save a life? Let The Fray play in the background, because the answer is yes. Well designed medication labels, easy-to-follow signage or clear warnings can all prevent serious injury or even death. And, just to be safe, let’s also not design bodywash packaging that looks like mango yogurt.

Now that we have mentioned the big responsibilities: while design can and does help people and brands everywhere, generally speaking our work is not saving lives on a daily basis. This means that those of us with tremendous anxiety (hello, there fellow imposters!) should be able to work with a bit less apprehension. We won’t kill anyone for accidentally using the wrong font; when we do get something wrong (we do) there are a lot of factors playing in – and we need to know which ones are ours to own.

Stating that design is not a life-saving profession is not an excuse to avoid responsibility – rather, it’s a tool to help us own our responsibilities without irrational fear. Acknowledging this allows everyone to adjust and avoid unnecessary pressure that could be harmful for both designers and clients. We’re all humans: clients, designers, everyone, so with an honest discussion new expectations can be set and met. Happy and mentally relieved designers will always perform at their best.