A side note - whenever I read RGD, I think about the reddit page titled Reddit Gets Drawn, wherein users post pictures of themselves to be drawn by other users as art models. It can be fun practice.

Responsibilities to Clients and Employers

Moving downward through the hierarchy of priorities, the RGD next focuses on the paying customer. It is only sensible to keep oneself afloat first. All cynicism aside, the responsibility to the clients and employers is another point that should go without saying - do not lie about your abilities, pay your subcontractors, and avoid releasing public information.

This rule becomes interesting when considering conflicts of interest. Not only must designers be wary of how single clients are affected by current events, etc., but you must also note the effect one client might have on another client. Your clients may have problems being connected even tangentially to a theoretical rival in their industry. The idea is to be up front with your other clientele. Customers may not actually be concerned with a conflict of interest as long as you are up-front with your work.

Another aspect of this rule is to never withdraw service without providing adequate reasoning and documentation. Here is another example where writing excellent contracts will pay off. Perfect wording can empower the designer to escape nightmare clients. Even in the moderate challenges, a good contract can dissolve arguments efficiently.

The best practices advised by the RGD pertaining to this rule revolve around good communication. Firstly, always make a good contract. Second, always try to make the client fully understand the contract before they sign it. Third, get a contract in writing, signed and dated, as soon as possible.