"A successful design career is possible without forfeiting self-respect as long as you do not undervalue (or overvalue) your work." - Peter Landt

Just the fact that such a phrase is contemplated does not bode well for that career however. I don't get why designers are so often underappreciated. It's true that often their work is only a small part of a project (depends on the project of course) but it is an important one.