Designers and artists who work on commision must defer to the taste and judgement of the client… that is the nature of taking on a commision. Of course there are various levels of interferance and control and those should be laid out in advance in the contract – yes contract. It is first and formost a business transaction. Those that forget this and do not have a properly written out contract specifying areas of control before beginning do not merit the term “profesional”

It doesn’t matter that the client may have bad artistic judgement. It doesn’t matter that they hired the designer for their judgement… they also hire lawyers and investment counsellors for their judgement. We know what happens ( or is supposed to ) to lawyers and investors that ignore their clients wishes and do what they think is best … they look for a new job at best or spend time in jail at worst. ( I put doctors in this category as well, though many of them object. )

On the other hand, an artist that creates a work with the intention to then sell it can do anything he or she likes. A designer that buys a house, remodels it with the intention of selling the result can do whatever they like.