Comments update: readers' reactions to the shock result of last Thursday's EU referendum, in which the UK voted in favour of exiting the European Union, are highlighted in this Brexit-focused roundup of the week's comments.

Bregret: architects and designers have unanimously expressed their disappointment over the UK's decision to sever ties with the EU, with Hawkins\Brown co-founder Roger Hawkins labelling the result a "nightmare". But Dezeen readers are more divided, much like the UK as a whole.

Some commenters felt the views of the creative community were at odds with public mood. "Designers and progressives will always side with the minority, no matter how detrimental the repercussions might be for the majority," said Bliss. "This is an artificial way of feeling moral and smarter than the collective."

"I thought designers were supposed to have a higher-than-average ability to empathise? If so, put yourself in the shoes of a 49-year-old care giver in Truro working 50 hours on minimum wage. Tell them the last 40 years have been great," wrote Matthew Wright.

"They haven't – they've been absolutely terrible. And you expected them to vote in?" he added.

"These design professionals must now support the young, who overwhelmingly voted to remain. It is people like me who will pay the price," said Roberto Sideris.

Rolling punches: Brexit could be a boost to creative industries if UK designers "roll with the punches and make the best of it," according to former government policy adviser Rohan Silva.

"Fantastic positive message," agreed a reader called Jesse Lockhart Krause.

But some aren't ready to accept the result. "There's a difference between rolling with the punches and sticking your face in a meat grinder," wrote a user calling themselves N_1010.

"I think that our first priority is to fight to ensure that we don't leave Europe on the back of a referendum that offered promises that can never be delivered."

Protest vote: the EU referendum was "about public opinion being manipulated" according to designer Nelly Ben Hayoun, who yesterday urged fellow creatives to rally together in central London. The protest has since been cancelled on safety grounds.

"What you call manipulation is what others call social action," hit back Friardo. "It's generally viewed as part of the democratic process."

The debate spilled over to another Dezeen story, where commenters argued over whether such a significant political choice should be given to the public at all.

"A long time ago the majority of the people thought that women should not have the right to vote. Do you think that democracy is just as simple as pleasing the majority?" said MV.

The story, which shared illustrations trending on Instagram and Twitter in the aftermath of the result, prompted commenters to express their regret for the result. "If only this creativity and talent had been used to get the facts across," wrote Luke Cameron.

A commenter called Harriet Beesley posted an illustration depicting the EU flag at half-mast, writing, "Here's my contribution. Definitely in mourning here in London."

What side of the Brexit debate are you on? Let us know in the comments section below.

Main illustration by Lucas Levitan.