The Olympics has brought us one debacle and meme and after another this year, but none of us in the design world thought that two “design-fluencers” and their followers would be going toe-to-toe on Instagram. Some say they saw it coming, but this is definitely not something that we had on my bingo card for 2024.

But let’s face it, this is the social media version of the design world we’re talking about — the place where opinions fly as fast as ideas and keyboard courage is all too real.

So, who are the two big names that got into this showdown?

Allan Peters and James Martin.

It all kicked off when Peters posted a video on Instagram showing how he “fixed” the Olympic logo. That word—”fix”—didn’t sit well with James Martin, who called Peters out in the comments and asked if it’s really cool to publicly tweak another designer’s work like that.

And then things got messy. Peters blocked Martin, Martin posted screenshots, and before you knew it, the design community was split. What should’ve been a simple discussion about design turned into a full-blown internet drama — complete with insults and even threats.

As one Redditor, vinhluanluu, put it bluntly: “The internet happened, sadly.”

That got us thinking, is it ever ok to “fix” another designer’s work? And we wanted to weigh in.

Is It Ever OK to “Fix” Another Designer’s Work?

The short answer: Yes, but with a whole lot of care.

Reimagining or, if we want to word it plainly, critiquing another designer’s work isn’t always a bad thing, but it is something that you’ve got to handle delicately. Any one of us who has ever created something knows that we put a lot of effort (as well as pride) into our work. No, we’re not infants that need to be coddled, but having a heart goes a long way. Even without one, some common decency is always a good idea.

So, how would we have handled this situation?

1. Context Is Key

Social media-driven designers like Allan Peters usually tackle the reimagining of big stuff — logos for major corporations or global events like the Olympics. These designs aren’t just one person’s creative vision, so it’s not like he’s going after the little guy. They’re the product of endless meetings, focus groups, and client demands. Our point is that when Peters “fixes” something, it’s more about sparking conversation than threatening someone’s livelihood. But if you’re going to critique a smaller, independent designer’s work, it’s a whole different ballgame. This is where we’d advise you to exercise extreme caution.

2. Respect the Process

Like we said, most logos aren’t just the result of one designer’s vision. They come from a collaborative process, with input from clients, marketing teams, and others. So, if a logo isn’t perfect, it might be because the designer had to make some tough compromises in order to appease all the stakeholders. With an event as big as the Olympics, you can imagine just how many stakeholders there are. Keep that in mind before pointing out what you think is “wrong” with it.

3. Critique as a Learning Opportunity

The design community thrives on feedback, but only when it’s done right. Public critiques can be goldmines of insight, but it all boils down to how you frame it. I would ditch the word “fix.” It’s loaded. Instead, try “reinterpret” or “explore a new direction.” The words you use should keep the conversation respectful and focused on growth.

And we saw a couple of designers who agreed with us on the verbiage issue:

“Fixing is where I bristle because someone outside the internal design process can’t ‘fix’ a logo. You can improve it visually, or tweak it for some end purpose. You don’t know the conversations from the early stages, what management vetoes or greenlights, or what options were trialed.”

– Achtung_Zoo on Reddit in the thread titled “Where do y’all stand on the allan peters ‘fixed’ Controversy?”

4. Be Aware of Your Influence

All in all, designers like Peters and Martin have serious clout. Their words carry weight, and their actions can set the tone for the rest of the community. So, when they critique, they’ve got to do it in a way that encourages learning, not a pile-on. A little thoughtfulness will help keep things copacetic.

And you don’t have to take our word for it. Social media was ablaze during the fallout and Reddit is teeming with discussions on this story.

What Other Designers Had to Say

That’s right, the drama between Peters and Martin didn’t just stay on Instagram where it started. It rippled through the design community and sparked all kinds of opinions in the process. One Reddit user didn’t hold back, calling Peters’ approach naive and out of touch with the realities of brand design:

“As someone who works in brand design, I find the underlying arrogance of what he’s doing a little naive and insulting. They’re essentially gimmicky design exercises, but nothing he’s doing is what actual visual identity design involves.”

– stano1213 on Reddit in the thread titled “Where do y’all stand on the allan peters ‘fixed’ Controversy?”

But then someone else chimed in and pointed out the clear gap between Peters’ social media presence and what really goes on in professional design work:

“Obviously people are being ridiculous and overreacting to this guy’s content, but as a side note, I think he comes off as way overconfident, and half of his logos are not very well done and don’t work for what the company would actually need.”

– No_Presentation1242 on Reddit in the thread titled “What happened?”

Our Conclusion: It’s OK… If You Play It Smart

At the end of the day, it’s totally fine to critique or reimagine another designer’s work as long as you’re doing it with care. To recap:

• Know the context.
• Respect the process.
• Keep it constructive.
• Be aware of your influence.

In our honest opinion, following those 4 tips will put you in a better position to offer your input. When all is said and done, it’s all a part of the creative process.

Happy fixing reimagining!