Designers are criticised by selling out and working purely to satisfy the needs of their customers, true?

Question

I am researching as to whether or not people think that graphic designers sell out by working for huge corporate firms....

Answer 1

Designers are hired by their customers and work for their customers and are paid by their customers, and therefore their primary concern ought to be to please their customers.  

The phrasing of your question is based on a false premise. Calling this 'selling out' is a complete misnomer and indicates a misunderstanding of basic economics such as how a free market system works.