Achieving more ethical, socially responsible and environmentally friendly design of products and systems involves considering a wide range of factors throughout design process and product life cycle, such as material selection, transport, energy efficiency and long-term effects of product design and usage on the planet and society. Some of the emerging methodologies and approaches to integrating ethics into design process include planet-centric or life-centric , circular, inclusive, distributed and sustainable design. All these different practices aim to advocate the needs of humans and our planet, provide clear directions and change the way we think about the design itself.
The dark side of tech
Technology has become an integral part of our society and culture. It changed forever the way we communicate, work, learn, shop or even stay healthy. But along with all the benefits and opportunities, digital revolution has brought us some new dangers and challenges. Disinformation, mismanagement or manipulation of private information and exploitative and addictive design of social media applications and online games are just some of many examples of digital misuse we are facing.
Most profit-driven tech companies have done a rather poor job in self-regulating ethical aspects of their products and practices. Instead of designing for better future, they have exploited users’ trust by taking advantage of cognitive biases and the lack of legislation. “Dark design patterns” spread across our digital world: using misleading language and design, hiding information, baiting and user shaming, among others, have silently become part of interface design techniques commonly used to manipulate or deceive users.
Digital ethical transition
Incorporating ethics into design process has become imperative for businesses aiming to align their corporate goals with human needs and environmental sustainability. There already are a number of initiatives and strategies which can be implemented to prevent dark patterns in the design of digital products and services and promote greener corporate culture.
Sustainable design
By designing products that are environmentally friendly and resource-efficient throughout their life cycle, raising awareness and promoting green practices, we can create a more healthy, safe, productive and sustainable future for all. Sustainable design is a continuous process that requires an interdisciplinary approach to solving complex challenges, ongoing evaluation and improvement.
Good design aspires to greatness. Great design aspires to do good.
Inclusive design
The goal of inclusive design is to create products and services that meet the diverse needs of a population, that are usable, welcoming and accessible for people of diverse cultural backgrounds and different ages and abilities and to promote social inclusion and equity.
Life-centered design
Circular design
Designing for durability, longevity and recyclability and designing with the goal of regenerating ecosystems and renewing communities empowers companies to gain green competitive advantage while reducing the environmental impact.
CTA
The profound impact the design has on various aspects of our lives and the environmental challenges the world is facing are a call for more responsible and holistic approach to design practices. The implementation of these initiatives and strategies can help pave the way towards a more sustainable, people-centric digital landscape.
