Excellent feature. I have so many thoughts on this topic of the designer's self-confidence. As a designer and art director, I have been in these 'first-arrow' situations so many times. Industry people without design skillsets would question random details about the design I presented. Rather than asking for my input, or strategy, or branding guidelines, they'd critique and judge. After years of working in the industry, I now find such design 'mobbing' practices abusive and just plainly wrong. Especially when I see what Hollywood or Amazon TV is producing day-in and day-out and feeding it as 'art'.

Designers bring an immense wealth of skill sets and innovation to a company, and it needs to be acknowledged as one of the top creative endeavors.

On the bright side, good companies will foster a collaborative environment, and also train employees to built solid creative foundations for the brand. My hope lies in management's teaching and in-company training. An excellent management team will impart excellent practices to the creative teams. Hopefully, the 'first arrows' can be called out and treated as incidences that need solutions. No team member should be left alone dealing with 'second arrows' if they keep on coming.