To
Mr/Mrs Whoever Lit The Bonfire of Passion,

I am writing to you with grave concern about a growing epidemic that has claimed the peace of many unsuspecting designers:
Passionwashing.

A few days ago, during a routine scroll on LinkedIn, I stumbled upon something truly horrifying.
A job post, masquerading as a personality checklist.
It said things like:

"Are you a restless creative soul who breathes ideas and dreams in wireframes?"

"Do you obsess over pixel alignment at 3 a.m. for fun?"

No mention of salary. But apparently, eligibility included losing your grip on reality.

This brings me to a larger issue plaguing the creative industry:
Intent laundering.

There’s a growing trend in the creative industry to call it a “calling” instead of a profession. As if overworking yourself is just a sign of passion, not a problem.

Allow me to share a personal incident to support this claim:
I recently visited a print shop to get a simple birthday card made for my mother. Two hours later, I left emotionally drained because the designer insisted on having a deep debate about how "cobalt blue lacks the emotional maturity of azure." I just wanted a card. Not a masterpiece. My mother still hasn’t received her card.

This letter also raises an urgent sustainability concern in the interviews and job search ecosystem.
We’re rapidly exhausting our national reserves of “ever since I was a child” origin stories. I propose we allow the use of more natural alernatives like:
“I’d like a job that lets me do work I don’t hate and helps me pay rent before the 5th.”

Finally, I leave you with a humble observation:
I notice that in today’s creative world,
Your job must bleed into your hobbies.
Your hobbies into your portfolio.
Your personality into your brand.
Until everything you are, can be exported as a .psd file. Layered and named correctly ofcourse!

Warm regards,
An average designer
Currently consulting a doctor for chronic back pain, vitamin D deficiency, and mild-to-severe identity blur.

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