corporate design manuals

Question

Do you think the days of the strict corporate design manual are numbered? I have designers around me who say ‘oh no we can’t do that it breaks the pre-ordained design parameters set i.e. grid width not specified, colour not specified, typeface not specified. My view is, if it does the job for which the change is intended – gets the company noticed and helps sell more products or services, stuff the parameters. We are not here to please our senses or look uniform but to do a good job.

Perhaps I’m the only one who thinks like this. Be interested in your views.