In-Person Breakfast Meeting: Where’d I Go Wrong? Top Ethics Issues for MN Design Professionals

Where’d I Go Wrong?  Top Ethics Issues for MN Design Professionals

Design professionals routinely navigate complex regulatory, contractual, and professional pressures that can create ethical risk—often without clear warning signs. This session examines the most common ethics and professionalism issues facing Minnesota design professionals, with a focus on where practitioners tend to go wrong and how those missteps can be avoided. Participants will receive a practical overview of Minnesota’s Rules of Professionalism and Ethics, along with a review of the key laws, rules, and factual patterns that frequently appear in disciplinary cases before licensing boards.

Through real-world scenarios drawn from both office and field settings, the presentation will illustrate how ethical dilemmas arise in everyday practice and how professional judgment can be compromised by schedule pressure, client demands, scope ambiguity, or inadequate documentation. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how ethics rules are designed to protect the public health, safety, and welfare (HSW), while also safeguarding the integrity of the profession.

The session will conclude with guidance on proactive ethical decision-making, empowering participants to “do the right thing” when challenges arise, and explaining how licensing boards’ complaint and enforcement processes function as tools to protect both the public and design professionals. Participants will leave with practical strategies for recognizing red flags, avoiding common pitfalls, and strengthening ethical culture within their firms.

Presented by: Attorney Kristine A. Kubes is principal of Kubes Law Office, PLLC