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I recently read the book CAPS LOCK: How Capitalism Took Hold of Graphic Design, and How to Escape from It by Ruben Pater. It is a very interesting book that explores how graphic design, as a profession, has been shaped by the needs of the market and how this has influenced the way graphic designers approach their work.

One chapter focuses on the relationship between graphic design and finance, from the use of design for financial record keeping to the present day, where graphic designers have been involved in designing banknotes, financial advertisements, banking apps, and much more.

In the same chapter, Pater discusses how the financial industry has taken “inspiration” from the design of gambling and the potential dangers of this approach. Financial applications increasingly use design techniques intended to make managing money feel engaging, rewarding, and even game-like.

One passage that particularly stood out to me was:

“The design of financial applications is inspired by the gambling industry.”

— Ruben Pater, CAPS LOCK: How Capitalism Took Hold of Graphic Design, and How to Escape from It (Valiz, 2021), p. 65.

I think it is a fascinating book and one that is definitely worth reading, especially for graphic designers interested in understanding the relationship between design, capitalism, and the systems we interact with every day.

Here is the illustration I made inspired by this topic: