A shorter version of this talk was first given at World Interaction Design Day on Sept. 24, 2019 to Dallas-area colleagues, designers, and students. This is an expanded version of the talk given at the Dallas UXPA on Oct. 24. View the write-up of this talk at https://medium.com/@cassininazir/the-shape-of-trust-ac913a227a13.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Cassini Nazir
Clinical Associate Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas
@cassininazir
THO UG HTS
ON THE
E FFE CTS OF
MOD ERN DE SIG N
S H A P E
O F
T R U S T
T H E
Dallas UXPA
Oct. 24, 2019
Dallas
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The button
ACT I
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Shinkansen train modeled after beak of kingfisher bird.
George de Mestral (1941) Eiji Nakatsu (1997)
Designers look to nature for inspiration. This is called biomimicry.
Burrs caught on dog fur inspired Velcro.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : defying gravity
creating energy
harnessing the invisible
avoiding disaster
keeping cool
reducing pain
Learning from the gecko… ... how to climb buildings.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : creating energy
harnessing the invisible
avoiding disaster
keeping cool
reducing pain
Learning from sunflowers… ... how to optimize solar power.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : harnessing the invisible
avoiding disaster
keeping cool
reducing pain
Learning from whale fins... ... how to create efficient wind power.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : avoiding disaster
keeping cool
reducing pain
Learning from dolphins… ... how to detect tsunamis earlier.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : keeping cool
reducing pain
Learning from termite colonies ... ... how to climate control buildings.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature holds lessons we have only begun to unravel : reducing pain
Learning from mosquitoes ... ... how to create “nicer needles.”
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Many common objects of today, were primitive human interactions.
before they were neolithic objects,
Ceramic cup, circa 6000 BC
Modern coffee cup Gesture of cupping hands
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Many common interactions of yesterday… are now an object used as an extension of ourselves.
Using hands to eat Using utensil to eat
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Go to nature …
rejecting nothing,
selecting nothing,
and scorning nothing.”
“
— John Ruskin, Modern Painters Vol. 1 (1843)
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Nature is the first circular economy: nothing is wasted.
Herbivores
Carnivore
Carnivore
Decomposers
Producers
Herbivores
Sun
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
QUESTION
Does the button occur in nature?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
It certainly exists in the technological world
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi
from the Noun Project
Does the button occur in nature?
QUESTION
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Where do you pour water to make a plant grow?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Imagine you are a child in 10,000 BC.
You heard water helps a plant grow, but you don’t understand how it works.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Where do you pour water to make a plant grow?
Stuff grows here
It would be a waste
to put water here!
Water should go here, too
Mental Model
(incorrect)
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Imagine you are a child in 10,000 BC.
You heard water helps a plant grow, but you don’t understand how it works.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1 Water and minerals
absorbed by roots
System Model
(simplified)
2 Water travels
through plant
3 Sunlight needed
for photosynthesis
4 Plants take in carbon dioxide
and release oxygen
Where do you pour water to make a plant grow?
Stuff grows here
It would be a waste
to put water here!
Water should go here, too
Mental Model
(incorrect)
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Imagine you are a child in 10,000 BC.
You heard water helps a plant grow, but you don’t understand how it works.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The concept behind the button is profound.
Natural World
timeless
Visible action
Slow reaction process
Tangible distance
Cyclical time
Not concerned with efficiency
Watering plant roots…
… makes a plant grow.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The concept behind the button is profound.
Natural World
timeless
Mechanical Age
15th-19th century
Digital Age
Late 20th century-present
Visible action
Invisible/abstracted reaction process
Heavily abstracted distance
Heavily abstracted time
Exponential efficiency
Visible action
Slow reaction process
Tangible distance
Cyclical time
Not concerned with efficiency
Visible action
Visible reaction process
Tangible distance
Semi-cyclical time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Watering plant roots…
… makes a plant grow.
Operating a lever or crank…
… makes an action more efficient.
Pressing a digital button…
… can make nearly anything
happen, immediately.
Electrical Age
19th-20th century
Visible action
Hidden reaction process
Abstracted distance
Abstracted time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Operating an electrical button…
… further increases efficiency.
… shortens distance.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
In the mechanical age, we could see the action as it happened.
The process of separation was visible throughout the cotton gin.
1 hour of cotton gin machine = 600 hours of human work
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Even if you couldn't see the action as it happened,
the average person could understand the process.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Heating 5 tons of iron once took 24 hours.
The Bessemer process was 20 minutes.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Buttons changed how we experience distance.
The world suddenly became smaller.
“What hath God wrought?” Numbers 23:23
First telegraph sent on May 24, 1844
Telegraph (1837)
Samuel Morse
Telephone (1876)
Alexander Graham Bell
Radio (1895)
Guglielmo Marconi
The letter “S”
First radio transmission on Dec. 12, 1901
“Mr. Watson—come here—I want to see you.”
First telephone call on March 10, 1876
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The concept behind the button is profound.
Natural World
timeless
Mechanical Age
15th-19th century
Digital Age
Late 20th century-present
Visible action
Invisible/abstracted reaction process
Heavily abstracted distance
Heavily abstracted time
Exponential efficiency
Visible action
Slow reaction process
Tangible distance
Cyclical time
Not concerned with efficiency
Visible action
Visible reaction process
Tangible distance
Semi-cyclical time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Watering plant roots…
… makes a plant grow.
Operating a lever or crank…
… makes an action more efficient.
Pressing a digital button…
… can make nearly anything
happen, immediately.
Electrical Age
19th-20th century
Visible action
Hidden reaction process
Abstracted distance
Abstracted time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Operating an electrical button…
… further increases efficiency.
… shortens distance.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
We can now press a button here … … to affect a result there.
Ring doorbell Ignored by cat
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
We can now press a button here … … to affect a result there.
Press button on keyboard Send document to print
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
We can now press a button here … … to affect a result there.
Shop from anywhere Package delivered, anywhere.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
We can now press a button here … … to affect a result there.
Launch a rocket Send a satellite into orbit
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
We can now press a button here … … to affect a result there.
Push the button Destroy anything, anywhere
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: UXPA Dallas · Oct. 24, 2019
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The concept behind the button is profound:
interacting with a thing here can affect something or someone there.
Natural World
timeless
Mechanical Age
15th-19th century
Digital Age
Late 20th century-present
Visible action
Invisible/abstracted reaction process
Heavily abstracted distance
Heavily abstracted time
Exponential efficiency
Visible action
Slow reaction process
Tangible distance
Cyclical time
Not concerned with efficiency
Visible action
Visible reaction process
Tangible distance
Semi-cyclical time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Watering plant roots…
… makes a plant grow.
Operating a lever or crank…
… makes an action more efficient.
Pressing a digital button…
… can make nearly anything
happen, immediately.
Electrical Age
19th-20th century
Visible action
Hidden reaction process
Abstracted distance
Abstracted time
Multiplier factor of efficiency
Operating an electrical button…
… further increases efficiency.
… shortens distance.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
HERE THERE
REFLECT
In what ways have you pressed a button here
and affected someone else there?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Our capacity for deep empathy changes the further out we go.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trusting
ACT 2
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
ACTIVITY
Think of the person you trust most.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
ACTIVITY
Think of the person you trust most.
Now draw that person.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
ACTIVITY
Think of the person you trust most.
Now draw that person.
What words best describe that person?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
ACTIVITY
Think of the person you trust most.
Now draw that person.
What words best describe that person?
Do those words also describe you?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
40 years of academic research on trust can be summarized by three attributes:
Definition of trust
Shawn Burke DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2007.09.006
The willingness of a party to be vulnerable to the actions of another
party based on the expectation that the other party will perform a
particular action important to the trustor, irrespective of the ability
to monitor or control the other party
Risk or having something invested, is requisite to trust; trust is evident
only in situations where the potential damage from unfulfilled trust
is greater than possible gain if trust is fulfilled
1. trust entails the assumption of risks some form of trust in
inherent in all relationships
Willingness to take risks (one of the few characteristics common to all
trust situations)
There must be some meaningful incentives at stake and that the
trustor must be cognizant of the risk involved
Cognitive trust refers to beliefs about another's trustworthiness
Affective trust refers to the important role of emotions in the trust
process
Behavioral trust in teams is relying on another and disclosing sensitive
information to another
Accepting the risks associated with the type and depth of the
interdependence inherent in a given relationship
Group's trust for another: A shared belief by member's of a focal group
about how willing that group is to be vulnerable to the a target group
Interorganizational trust is collectively held trust orientation toward the
partner firm
Mutual trust exists when two people have complementary trust for one
another and when each perceives that the other is aware of his
intent and his trust
Reciprocal trust is the trust that results when a party observes the
actions of another and reconsiders one's attitude and subsequent
behavior based on those observations
Trust implies a belief that an individual will not act opportunistically or
in a self-serving manner; belief of a congruence of values
Trust (3 Facets)
1. trust in another party reflects an expectation or belief that the
other party will act benevolently
2. trust involves a willingness to be vulnerable and risk that the
other party may not fulfill the expectations
3. trust involves some level of dependency on the other party so that
the outcomes of one individual are influenced by the actions of
another
Source
Mayer et al. (1995)
Sheppard & Sherman, 1998; Deutsch, 1958
Johnson-George and Swap (1982)
Kee and Knox (1970)
Gillespie & Mann, 2004; Gillespie, 2003
Sheppard and Sherman (1998)
Serva, Fuller, & Mayer, 2005; Mayer et al.,
1995
Serva et al., 2005; Zaheer, McEvily, &
Perrone, 1998 Serva et al., 2005; Deutsch,
1958
Serva et al. (2005)
Hall et al., 2004; Lewicki & Bunker, 1995
Whitener et al. (1998)
Definition of trust
Trust can be viewed as an attitude (derived from trustor's perceptions,
beliefs, and attributions about the trustee based upon trustee's
behavior) held by one individual toward another
A psychological state compromising the intention to accept
vulnerability based upon positive expectations of the intentions or
behavior of another
Willingness to be vulnerable
Willingness to rely on another
Interpersonal trust: two dimensions
1. Cognitive — reflect issues such as the reliability, integrity, honest,
and fairness of a referent
2. Affective — reflect a special relationship with the referent to
demonstrate concern about one's welfare
One's willingness to rely on another's actions in a situation involving
the risk of opportunism
Based on individuals' expectations that others will behave in ways that
are helpful or at least not harmful
One believes in and is willing to depend on another party
Two components:
Trusting intention: one is willing to depend on the other person in a
given situation Trusting beliefs: one believes the other person is
benevolent, competent, honest,
or predictable in a situation
Disposition to trust: refers to a tendency to be willing to depend on
others
Institution-based trust: one believes impersonal structures support
one's likelihood for success in a given situation; reflects the security
one feels about a situation because of guarantees, safety nets, or
other structures
Personality-based trust: develops during childhood as an infant seeks
and receives help from his or her benevolent caregiver resulting in a
general tendency to trust others
Cognitive-based trust: relies on rapid, cognitive cues or first
impressions as opposed to personal interactions
Source
Whitener et al. (1998)
Rousseau et al. (1998)
Rousseau et al. (1998)
Rousseau et al., 1998; Doney, Cannon, &
Mullen, 1998
Dirks & Ferrin, 2002; McAllister, 1995
Williams, 2001; Mayer et al., 1995; Zand,
1972
Williams, 2001; Gambetta, 1998
McKnight, Cummings, & Chervany, 1998;
Mayer et al., 1995
McKnight et al., 1998; Currall & Judge,
1995
McKnight et al., 1998; Mayer et al., 1995
McKnight et al. (1998)
McKnight et al., 1998; Shapiro, 1987;
Zucker, 1986
McKnight et al., 1998; Bowlby, 1982;
Erikson, 1968; Rotter, 1967
McKnight et al., 1998; Brewer, 1981; Lewis
& Weingert, 1985; Meyerson, Weick, &
Kramer, 1996
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability Integrity Benevolence
Shawn Burke DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2007.09.006
A group of skills, competencies, and
characteristics that enable a person
to have influence with others
The perception that a person
adheres to a set of principles that
you find acceptable
Genuine care about others and
authentic concern in relationships
40 years of academic research on trust can be summarized by three attributes:
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trust has three attributes. Conceptualize your trust index by multiplying them.
Ability Integrity
Benevolence x
x = Trust Index
Ideal is to score high in all attributes.
Jean-Luc Picard captain from ST:NG
10 10 10 1000
x x =
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trust has three attributes. Conceptualize your trust index by multiplying them.
Ability Integrity
Benevolence x
x = Trust Index
Score zero on any one, and your total is zero.
10 5 0 0 Harvey Weinstein the bastard from real life
x x =
Michael Scott boss from The Office
Score high on two, with a blind spot in a third.
1 10 10 100
x x =
Ideal is to score high in all attributes.
Jean-Luc Picard captain from ST:NG
10 10 10 1000
x x =
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trust has three attributes. Conceptualize your trust index by multiplying them.
Ability Integrity
Benevolence x
x = Trust Index
Score zero on any one, and your total is zero.
10 5 0 0 Harvey Weinstein the bastard from real life
x x =
Michael Scott boss from The Office
Score high on two, with a blind spot in a third.
1 10 10 100
x x =
Ideal is to score high in all attributes.
Jean-Luc Picard captain from ST:NG
10 10 10 1000
x x =
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability
Skills x influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Designer
Individual
Be as honest as possible.
Take a moment to score yourself (from 0 to 10) in each attribute.
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability
Skills x influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Team
Interdisciplinary
Designer
Individual
But trust is more than just you. You probably are on a team.
How trustworthy is your team?
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
SCOPE OF TRUST
Make sure your team members aren’t looking at your answers.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability
Skills x influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Team
Interdisciplinary
Company
Org-at-large
Designer
Individual
Your team exists inside an organization.
How trustworthy is it?
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
SCOPE OF TRUST
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability
Skills & influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Team
Interdisciplinary
Company
Org-at-large
Designer
Individual
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
SCOPE OF TRUST
T
IM
E
Ability Integrity Benevolence
Team
Your team
Company
Your company
Designer
You 5
5
8
4
3
9
4
3
6
200
108
72
Try calculating a trust index for your
unique scenario. The numbers are
often lower with each higher rung.
This grid of trust shows each trust
attribute applied to the designer,
their team and the company at large.
Example
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Ability
Skills & influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Team
Interdisciplinary
Company
Org-at-large
Designer
Individual
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
SCOPE OF TRUST
T
IM
E
What might your indices be in…
1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Travis Bradberry, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 (2009)
CEO
Sr. Exec
Exec/VP
Director
Manager
Boss
Individual
80%
78
76
74
72
70
68
Emotional Intelligence Scores and Job Title
Ability
Skills & influence
Integrity
Principles
Benevolence
Care and concern
Team
Interdisciplinary
Company
Org-at-large
Designer
Individual
ATTRIBUTES OF TRUST
SCOPE OF TRUST
T
IM
E
Reminder: As you move up in management, your EQ gets progressively lower.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The shape of trust is a cloud…
Indescribable.
Forever changing.
Visible, but not graspable.
A source of beauty and destruction.
A place for aspiration and imagination.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Direct Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is frank, blunt, honest and not softened
by positiv. Criticism given to an individual in front of a group.
Indirect Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is soft, subtle, and diplomatic, wrapped
in positive messages. Criticism given only in private.
EVALUATING
High-context
Sophisticated, nuanced, and layered. Messages are spoken
and read between the lines; implied but not plainly expressed.
Applications-first
Begin by building up a theoretical argument before moving
to conclusion. Underlying conceptual principles are valued.
Relationship-Based
Trust built slowly over long term. I’ve seen who you are at a
deep level; shared personal time with you ∴ I trust you.
Top-down
Decisions are made by individuals
(usually the boss).
Avoidant
Disagreement is negative for group. Open confrontation is
inappropriate, breaks group harmony.
Flexible-time
Steps are fluid, changing opportunities arise. Interruptions
are accepted. Focus is on adaptability; flexibility is valued.
Linear-time
Steps are sequential: one thing at a time. No interruptions.
Emphasis on promptness; good organization over flexibility.
Unspoken cultural interpretations and expectations are often sources of conflict.
Low-context
Communication is precise, simple, and clear. Messages are
expressed/understood at face value. Repetition may clarify.
Principles-first
Begins with an executive summary. Discussions are
practical and concrete. Theoretical discussions avoided.
Task-based
Trust built by business-related activities, but dropped easily.
You do good work consistently and are reliable ∴ I trust you.
Consensual
Decisions made in groups
through unanimous agreement.
Egalitarian
Org structures are flat. A boss is a facilitator among
equals. Communication skips hierarchical lines.
Hierarchical
A boss is a strong director who leads from the front. Status
is important. Org is multilayered and fixed.
Confrontational
Disagreement positive for team/org. Open confrontation is
appropriate and not negatively affect relationship.
COMMUNICATING
PERSUADING
TRUSTING
DECIDING
LEADING
SCHEDULING
DISAGREEING
Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014)
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Direct Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is frank, blunt, honest and not softened
by positiv. Criticism given to an individual in front of a group.
Indirect Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is soft, subtle, and diplomatic, wrapped
in positive messages. Criticism given only in private.
EVALUATING
High-context
Sophisticated, nuanced, and layered. Messages are spoken
and read between the lines; implied but not plainly expressed.
Applications-first
Begin by building up a theoretical argument before moving
to conclusion. Underlying conceptual principles are valued.
Relationship-Based
Trust built slowly over long term. I’ve seen who you are at a
deep level; shared personal time with you ∴ I trust you.
Top-down
Decisions are made by individuals
(usually the boss).
Avoidant
Disagreement is negative for group. Open confrontation is
inappropriate, breaks group harmony.
Flexible-time
Steps are fluid, changing opportunities arise. Interruptions
are accepted. Focus is on adaptability; flexibility is valued.
Linear-time
Steps are sequential: one thing at a time. No interruptions.
Emphasis on promptness; good organization over flexibility.
Low-context
Communication is precise, simple, and clear. Messages are
expressed/understood at face value. Repetition may clarify.
Principles-first
Begins with an executive summary. Discussions are
practical and concrete. Theoretical discussions avoided.
Task-based
Trust built by business-related activities, but dropped easily.
You do good work consistently and are reliable ∴ I trust you.
Consensual
Decisions made in groups
through unanimous agreement.
Egalitarian
Org structures are flat. A boss is a facilitator among
equals. Communication skips hierarchical lines.
Hierarchical
A boss is a strong director who leads from the front. Status
is important. Org is multilayered and fixed.
Confrontational
Disagreement positive for team/org. Open confrontation is
appropriate and not negatively affect relationship.
COMMUNICATING
PERSUADING
TRUSTING
DECIDING
LEADING
SCHEDULING
DISAGREEING
Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014)
Yellow dots indicates where businesses in the United States tend to be.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trust built slowly
over long term. I
know who you are at
a deep level; shared
time with you,
∴ I trust you.
Task-based
Trust built by business-
related activities, but
dropped easily. You do
good work consistently
and are reliable,
∴ I trust you.
TRUST
Trust is layered differently depending on cultural contexts.
Relationship-Based
Saudi Arabia
Nigeria
China
US
Denmark
Germany
Netherlands Finland
Australia Austria
UK
Poland
Spain
France
Italy
Mexico Brazil
Russia
Japan Turkey
Thailand India
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Trust built slowly
over long term. I
know who you are at
a deep level; shared
time with you,
∴ I trust you.
Co-worker
(same team)
CEO
Director
Manager
Task-based
Trust built by business-
related activities, but
dropped easily. You do
good work consistently
and are reliable,
∴ I trust you.
TRUST
Co-worker
(different team)
Boss
Co-worker
(overseas team)
Executive
Might trust also be woven uniquely depending on the team?
Relationship-Based
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Dieter Rams knew the value of trust for good design.
Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design makes a product understandable
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is long-lasting
Good design is thorough down to the last detail
Good design is environmentally-friendly
Good design is as little design as possible
Dieter Rams (1976), Design by Vitsœ.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Rachel Botsman describes three models of trust that underpin the modern world.
Rachel Botsman, Who Can You Trust (2017).
Local trust Institutional trust Distributed trust
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Institutional trust Distributed trust (Digital)
Adapted from Rachel Botsman, Who Can You Trust (2017).
Distributed quickly network
Local trust
Distributed slowly via network Distributed via institution
Rachel Botsman describes three models of trust that underpin the modern world,
but trust has always been distributed. Only recently has the pace quickened.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The imagination
ACT 3
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
QUESTION
What games did you play as a child?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
QUESTION
What things be different about you if you grew up playing…
Tetris
Strict, rules-based game
Minecraft
The only rules are those I create
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen X
1965-1982
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Gen Z
2004-?
Gen ?
Gen Y
Millennials
1982-2004
(Census Bureau)
(Harvard Center)
(Harvard Center)
(Strauss and Howe)
Silent Gen.
until 1945
(Tom Brokaw)
Generational cycles are approximately every 20 years.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen X
1965-1982
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
Gen X
1965-1982
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
Gen X
1965-1982
circa 1995
People got connected
with widespread
access to the Internet.
2
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
Gen X
1965-1982
circa 1995
People got connected
with widespread
access to the Internet.
2
circa 2015
Things got connected
with a proliferation of
networked devices.
3
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
near future
Things behave
like humans,
only better.
4
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen X
1965-1982
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
circa 1995
People got connected
with widespread
access to the Internet.
2
circa 2015
Things got connected
with a proliferation of
networked devices.
3
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Silent Gen.
until 1945
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Every generation has trend(s) that cultivate a unique technological imagination.
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
circa 1995
People got connected
with widespread
access to the Internet.
2
circa 2015
Things got connected
with a proliferation of
networked devices.
3
near future
Things behave
like humans,
only better.
4
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Gen X
1965-1982
Millennials
1982-2004
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
This visualization indicates the scale of effects of each technology is the same.
circa 1975
Work became digital
with the rise of the
personal computer.
1
circa 1995
People got connected
with widespread
access to the Internet.
2
circa 2015
Things got connected
with a proliferation of
networked devices.
3
near future
Things behave
like humans,
only better.
4
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Gen X
1965-1982
Gen Z
2004-? Gen ?
Millennials
1982-2004
Silent Gen.
until 1945
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
This is an example of scale of the effects of each technology.
Work became digital
1
People got connected
2
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Combinatorial innovation tells us these trends will have outsized effects.
People got connected
2
Work became digital
1
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Combinatorial innovation tells us these trends will have outsized effects.
People got connected
2
Work became digital
1
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Combinatorial innovation tells us these trends will have outsized effects.
People got connected
2
Work became digital
1
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Combinatorial innovation tells us these trends will have outsized effects.
People got connected
2
Work became digital
1
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Each of these trends will have greater and greater effects.
People got connected
2
Work became digital
1
Things got connected
3
Things behave like humans
4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
As we move into higher levels of autonomy, who decides and acts changes.
Autonomy
Acquire
Information
Analyze
Situation Decide Act
Level 0 Human Human Human Human
1 Human/System Human Human Human
2 System Human/System Human Human
3 System System Human/System Human
4 System System System Human/System
5 System System System System
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
As we move into higher levels of autonomy, who decides and acts changes.
Autonomy
Acquire
Information
Analyze
Situation Decide Act
Level 0 Human Human Human Human
1 Human/System Human Human Human
2 System Human/System Human Human
3 System System Human/System Human
4 System System System Human/System
5 System System System System
2020
Future
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Technology will not just do things for us…
Adapted from Paul Pangaro and Hugh Dubberly
“Lexus, play news from NPR.” “Lexus, I want to listen to news.
What are my options?”
“Lexus, some news please.” “Lexus, help me decide the
best local news in this area.”
Controlling Guiding Delegating Collaborating
Human tells car what to do
and how to do it
Human sets goal
but discusses means with car
Human sets the goal
but lets car decide
the means to reach it
Human and car decide
together on goals
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle Human Vehicle
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle
Present Now or near future
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Technology will not just do things for us, it will soon help us decide.
“Lexus, play news from NPR.” “Lexus, I want to listen to news.
What are my options?”
“Lexus, some news please.” “Lexus, help me decide the
best local news in this area.”
Controlling Guiding Delegating Collaborating
Human tells car what to do
and how to do it
Human sets goal
but discusses means with car
Human sets the goal
but lets car decide
the means to reach it
Human and car decide
together on goals
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle Human Vehicle
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle
Goals Goals
Means
Means
Human Vehicle
Adapted from Paul Pangaro and Hugh Dubberly
Present Now or near future
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
n
ACT 4
Ac o
t
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Action
ACT 4
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
DESIGN THINKING
How might we…?
Update your design process from asking just…
CHALLENGE 1
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
DESIGN THINKING ETHICAL COMPONENTS
How might we…? Why should we…?
... design a better way to
enjoy flowers in the home.
Update your design process from asking just…
CHALLENGE 1
... design a better way to
enjoy flowers in the home.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
CHALLENGE 2
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Architects have a code of ethics made of six canons.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 5
E.S. 6.5 Climate Change
Members should incorporate
adaptation strategies with their
clients to anticipate extreme
weather events and minimize
adverse effects on the
environment, economy and public
health.
Rule Members shall consider with their
6.501 clients the environmental effects
of their project decisions.
RULES OF APPLICATION,
ENFORCEMENT, AND
AMENDMENT
Application
The Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct applies to the professional
activities of all members of the AIA.
Enforcement
The Bylaws of the Institute state
procedures for the enforcement of the Code
of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Such
procedures provide that:
(1) Enforcement of the Code is
administered through a National
Ethics Council, appointed by the AIA
Board of Directors.
(2) Formal charges are filed directly with
the National Ethics Council by
Members, components, or anyone
directly aggrieved by the conduct of
the Members.
(3) Penalties that may be imposed by
the National Ethics Council are:
(a) Admonition
(b) Censure
(c) Suspension of membership for
a period of time
(d) Termination of membership.
(4) Appeal procedures are available.
(5) All proceedings are confidential, as is
the imposition of an admonishment;
however, all other penalties shall be
made public.
Enforcement of Rules 4.101 and 4.202 refer
to and support enforcement of other Rules.
A violation of Rules 4.101 or 4.202 cannot
be established without proof of a pertinent
violation of at least one other Rule.
Amendment
The Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct may be amended by the
convention of the Institute under the same
procedures as are necessary to amend the
In i e B la The Code may also be
amended by the AIA Board of Directors
upon a two-thirds vote of the entire Board.
*2018 Edition. This copy of the Code of
Ethics is current as of September 6, 2018.
Con ac he General Co n el Office for
further information at (202) 626-7311.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 2
slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents
(unless extremely serious) will not rise to
the level of violation of this Rule.
Rule Members shall not engage in
1.402 conduct involving wanton
disregard of the rights of others.
Commentary: Wanton disregard under this
rule includes conduct taken in disregard of
(1) a high degree of risk that the
Complainant would be adversely affected,
and (2) that risk would be apparent to a
ea onable e on Rea onable e on i
an objective standard and considers
someone who uses such qualities as
attention, knowledge, intelligence, and
judgement which a society requires of its
members to protect their own interests and
the interests of others. Wanton disregard
under this rule also includes engaging in
conduct that is severe or pervasive enough
that a reasonable person would consider it
harassing, hostile, or abusive. This includes,
but is not limited to, sexual misconduct,
bullying, intimidation, or retaliation.
E.S. 1.5 Design for Human Dignity and the
Health, Safety, and Welfare of the
Public:
Members should employ their
professional knowledge and skill
to design buildings and spaces
that will enhance and facilitate
human dignity and the health,
safety, and welfare of the
individual and the public.
E.S. 1.6 Allied Arts and Industries:
Members should promote allied
arts and contribute to the
knowledge and capability of the
building industries as a whole.
CANON II
Obligations to the Public
Members should embrace the spirit
and letter of the law governing their
professional affairs and should promote
and serve the public interest in their
personal and professional activities.
E.S. 2.1 Conduct:
Members should uphold the law in
the conduct of their professional
activities.
Rule Members shall not, in the conduct
2.101 of their professional practice,
knowingly violate the law.
Commentary: The violation of any law, local,
state or federal, occurring in the conduct of a
Membe ofe ional ac ice i made he
basis for discipline by this rule. This includes
the federal Copyright Act, which prohibits
copying architectural works without the
permission of the copyright owner. Allegations
of violations of this rule must be based on an
independent finding of a violation of the law
by a court of competent jurisdiction or an
administrative or regulatory body.
Rule Members shall neither offer nor
2.102 make any payment or gift to a
public official with the intent of
infl encing he official j dgmen
in connection with an existing or
prospective project in which the
Members are interested.
Commentary: This rule does not prohibit
campaign contributions made in conformity
with applicable campaign financing laws.
Rule Members serving in a public
2.103 capacity shall not accept
payments or gifts which are
intended to influence their
judgment.
Rule Members shall not engage in
2.104 conduct involving fraud.
Commentary: This rule addresses serious
misconduct whether or not related to a
Membe ofe ional ac ice Proof of
fraud must be based on an independent
finding of a violation of the law or a finding of
fraud by a court of competent jurisdiction or
an administrative or regulatory body.
Rule If, in the course of their work on
2.105 a project, the Members become
aware of a decision taken by their
employer or client which violates
any law or regulation and which
ill in he Membe j dgmen
materially affect adversely the
safety to the public of the finished
project, the Members shall:
(a) advise their employer or client
against the decision,
(b) refuse to consent to the
decision, and
(c) report the decision to the local
building inspector or other
public official charged with the
enforcement of the applicable
laws and regulations, unless
the Members are able to cause
the matter to be satisfactorily
resolved by other means.
Commentary: This rule extends only to
violations of the building laws that threaten
the public safety. The obligation under this
rule applies only to the safety of the finished
project, an obligation coextensive with the
usual undertaking of an architect.
Rule Members shall not counsel or
2.106 assist a client in conduct that the
architect knows, or reasonably
should know, is fraudulent or
illegal.
E.S. 2.2 Public Interest Services:
Members should render public
interest professional services,
including pro bono services, and
encourage their employees to
render such services. Pro bono
services are those rendered
without expecting compensation,
including those rendered for
indigent persons, after disasters,
or in other emergencies.
E.S. 2.3 Civic Responsibility:
Members should be involved in
civic activities as citizens and
professionals, and should strive
to improve public appreciation
and understanding of architecture
and the functions and
responsibilities of architects.
Rule Members making public statements
2.301 on architectural issues shall
disclose when they are being
compensated for making such
statements or when they have an
economic interest in the issue.
E.S. 2.4 Environmental Equity and Justice
Members should promote fairness
and safety in providing
professional services and make
reasonable efforts to advise their
clients and employers of their
obligations to the environment,
including: access to clean air,
water, sunlight and energy for all;
sustainable production, extraction,
transportation and consumption
practices; a built environment that
equitably supports human health
and well-being and is resistant to
climate change; and restoring
F R O M T H E O F F I C E O F G E N E R A L C O U N S E L
2018 Code of Ethics and
Professional Conduct
Preamble
Members of The American Institute of Architects are dedicated to
the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence.
This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct states guidelines for
the conduct of Members in fulfilling those obligations. The Code is
arranged in three tiers of statements: Canons, Ethical Standards,
and Rules of Conduct:
Canons are broad principles of conduct.
Ethical Standards (E.S.) are more specific goals toward which
Members should aspire in professional performance and
behavior.
Rules of Conduct (Rule) are mandatory; violation of a Rule
is grounds for disciplinary action by the Institute. Rules of
Conduct, in some instances, implement more than one Canon
or Ethical Standard.
The Code applies to the professional activities of all classes of
Members, wherever they occur. It addresses responsibilities to the
public, which the profession serves and enriches; to the clients and
users of architecture and in the building industries, who help to shape
the built environment; and to the art and science of architecture, that
continuum of knowledge and creation which is the heritage and
legacy of the profession.
Commentary is provided for some of the Rules of Conduct. That
commentary is meant to clarify or elaborate the intent of the rule.
The commentary is not part of the Code. Enforcement will be
determined by application of the Rules of Conduct alone; the
commentary will assist those seeking to conform their conduct
to the Code and those charged with its enforcement.
Statement in Compliance With Antitrust Law
The following practices are not, in themselves, unethical,
unprofessional, or contrary to any policy of The American Institute
of Architects or any of its components:
(1) submitting, at any time, competitive bids or price quotations,
including in circumstances where price is the sole or principal
consideration in the selection of an architect;
(2) providing discounts; or
(3) providing free services.
Individual architects or architecture firms, acting alone and not on
behalf of the Institute or any of its components, are free to decide
for themselves whether or not to engage in any of these practices.
Antitrust law permits the Institute, its components, or Members to
advocate legislative or other government policies or actions relating
to these practices. Finally, architects should continue to consult with
state laws or regulations governing the practice of architecture.
CANON I
General Obligations
Members should maintain and advance
their knowledge of the art and science of
architecture, respect the body of
architectural accomplishment, contribute
to its growth, thoughtfully consider the
social and environmental impact of their
professional activities, and exercise learned
and uncompromised professional
judgment.
E.S. 1.1 Knowledge and Skill:
Members should strive to improve
their professional knowledge and
skill.
Rule In practicing architecture,
1.101 Members shall demonstrate a
consistent pattern of reasonable
care and competence, and shall
apply the technical knowledge and
skill which is ordinarily applied by
architects of good standing
practicing in the same locality.
Commentary: B requiring a consistent
pattern of adherence to the common law
standard of competence, this rule allows for
discipline of a Member who more than
infrequently does not achieve that standard.
Isolated instances of minor lapses would not
provide the basis for discipline.
E.S. 1.2 Standards of Excellence:
Members should continually seek
to raise the standards of aesthetic
excellence, architectural
education, research, training, and
practice.
E.S. 1.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage:
Members should respect and help
conserve their natural and cultural
heritage while striving to improve
the environment and the quality
of life within it.
E.S. 1.4 Human Rights:
Members should uphold human
rights in all their professional
endeavors.
Rule Members shall not engage in
1.401 harassment or discrimination in
their professional activities on the
basis of race, religion, national
origin, age, disability, caregiver
status, gender, gender identity, or
sexual orientation.
Commentary: Harassment may include, but
is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs,
epithets or name calling, unwelcome
physical contact, or threats, intimidation,
ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs,
offensive objects or pictures, and
interference with work performance. Petty
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 3
degraded or depleted natural
resources.
Rule When performing professional
2.401 services, Members shall make
reasonable efforts to inform their
clients of the potential
environmental impacts or
consequences the Member
reasonably believes may occur as
a result of work performed on
behalf of the clients.
CANON III
Obligations to the Client
Members should serve their clients
competently and in a professional manner,
and should exercise unprejudiced and
unbiased judgment when performing all
professional services.
E.S. 3.1 Competence:
Members should serve their
clients in a timely and competent
manner.
Rule In performing professional services,
3.101 Members shall take into account
applicable laws and regulations.
Members may rely on the advice
of other qualified persons as to
the intent and meaning of such
regulations.
Rule Members shall undertake to
3.102 perform professional services only
when they, together with those
whom they may engage as
consultants, are qualified by
education, training, or experience
in the specific technical areas
involved.
Commentary: This rule is meant to ensure
that Members not undertake projects that are
beyond their professional capacity. Members
venturing into areas that require expertise
they do not possess may obtain that expertise
by additional education, training, or through
the retention of consultants with the
necessary expertise.
Rule Members shall not materially alter
3.103 the scope or objectives of a
jec i h he clien
consent.
E.S. 3.2 Conflict of Interest:
Members should avoid conflicts of
interest in their professional
practices and fully disclose all
unavoidable conflicts as they arise.
Rule A Member shall not render
3.201 professional services if the
Membe fe i nal j dgmen
could be affected by
responsibilities to another project
e n b he Membe n
interests, unless all those who rely
n he Membe j dgmen
consent after full disclosure.
Commentary: This rule is intended to embrace
the full range of situations that may present a
Member with a conflict between his interests
or responsibilities and the interest of others.
Those who are entitled to disclosure may
include a client, owner, employer, contractor,
or others who rely on or are affected by the
Membe fe i nal deci i n A Membe
who cannot appropriately communicate about
a conflict directly with an affected person
must take steps to ensure that disclosure is
made by other means.
Rule When acting by agreement of the
3.202 parties as the independent
interpreter of building contract
documents and the judge of
contract performance, Members
shall render decisions impartially.
Commentary: This rule applies when the
Member, though paid by the owner and owing
the owner loyalty, is nonetheless required to
ac i h im a iali in f lfilling he a chi ec
professional responsibilities.
E.S. 3.3 Candor and Truthfulness:
Members should be candid and
truthful in their professional
communications and keep their
clients reasonably informed about
he clien jec
Rule Members shall not intentionally
3.301 or recklessly mislead existing or
prospective clients about the
results that can be achieved
h gh he e f he Membe
services, nor shall the Members
state that they can achieve results
by means that violate applicable
law or this Code.
Commentary: This rule is meant to preclude
dishonest, reckless, or illegal representations
by a Member either in the course of soliciting
a client or during performance.
E.S. 3.4 Confidentiality:
Members should safeguard the
trust placed in them by their
clients.
Rule Members shall not knowingly
3.401 disclose information that would
adversely affect their client or that
they have been asked to maintain
in confidence, except as otherwise
allowed or required by this Code
or applicable law.
Commentary: To encourage the full and open
exchange of information necessary for a
successful professional relationship, Members
must recognize and respect the sensitive
nature of confidential client communications.
Because the law does not recognize an
architect-client privilege, however, the rule
permits a Member to reveal a confidence
when a failure to do so would be unlawful or
contrary to another ethical duty imposed by
this Code.
CANON IV
Obligations to the Profession
Members should uphold the integrity and
dignity of the profession.
E.S. 4.1 Honesty and Fairness:
Members should pursue their
professional activities with
honesty and fairness.
Rule Members having substantial
4.101 information which leads to a
reasonable belief that another
Member has committed a
violation of this Code which raises
a serious question as to that
Membe h ne
trustworthiness, or fitness as a
Member, shall file a complaint
with the National Ethics Council.
Commentary: Often, only an architect can
recognize that the behavior of another
architect poses a serious question as to that
he fe i nal in eg i In h e
ci c m ance he d he fe i nal
calling requires that a complaint be filed. In
most jurisdictions, a complaint that invokes
professional standards is protected from a
libel or slander action if the complaint was
made in good faith. If in doubt, a Member
should seek counsel before reporting on
another under this rule.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 4
Rule Members shall not sign or seal
4.102 drawings, specifications, reports,
or other professional work for
which they do not have
responsible control.
Commentary: Responsible control means
the degree of knowledge and supervision
ordinarily required by the professional
standard of care. With respect to the work
of licensed consultants, Members may sign
or seal such work if they have reviewed it,
coordinated its preparation, or intend to be
responsible for its adequacy.
Rule Members speaking in their
4.103 professional capacity shall not
knowingly make false statements
of material fact.
Commentary: This rule applies to statements
in all professional contexts, including
applications for licensure and AIA
membership.
E.S. 4.2 Dignity and Integrity:
Members should strive, through
their actions, to promote the
dignity and integrity of the
profession, and to ensure that
their representatives and
employees conform their conduct
to this Code.
Rule Members shall not make
4.201 misleading, deceptive, or false
statements or claims about their
professional qualifications,
experience, or performance and
shall accurately state the scope
and nature of their responsibilities
in connection with work for which
they are claiming credit.
Commentary: This rule is meant to prevent
Members from claiming or implying credit for
work which they did not do, misleading others,
and denying other participants in a project
their proper share of credit.
Rule Members shall make reasonable
4.202 efforts to ensure that those over
whom they have supervisory
authority conform their conduct to
this Code.
Commen ar Wha con i e rea onable
effor nder hi r le i a common en e
matter. As it makes sense to ensure that those
over whom the architect exercises supervision
be made generally aware of the Code, it can
also make sense to bring a particular
provision to the attention of a particular
employee when a situation is present which
might give rise to violation.
CANON V
Obligations to Colleagues
Members should respect the rights and
acknowledge the professional aspirations
and contributions of their colleagues.
E.S. 5.1 Professional Environment:
Members should provide their
colleagues and employees with
a fair and equitable working
environment, compensate them
fairly, and facilitate their
professional development.
Rule Members shall treat their
5.101 colleagues and employees with
mutual respect, and provide an
equitable working environment.
E.S. 5.2 Intern and Professional
Development:
Members should recognize and
fulfill their obligation to nurture
fellow professionals as they
progress through all stages of
their career, beginning with
professional education in the
academy, progressing through
internship and continuing
throughout their career.
Rule Members who have agreed to
5.201 work with individuals engaged in
an architectural internship
program or an experience
requirement for licensure shall
reasonably assist in proper and
timely documentation in
accordance with that program.
E.S. 5.3 Professional Recognition:
Members should build their
professional reputation on the
merits of their own service and
performance and should recognize
and give credit to others for the
professional work they have
performed.
Rule Members shall recognize and
5.301 respect the professional
contributions of their employees,
employers, professional
colleagues, and business
associates.
Rule Members leaving a firm shall not,
5.302 without the permission of their
employer or partner, take designs,
drawings, data, reports, notes, or
other materials relating to the
firm ork he her or no
performed by the Member.
Rule A Member shall not unreasonably
5.303 withhold permission from a
departing employee or partner to
take copies of designs, drawings,
data, reports, notes, or other
materials relating to work
performed by the employee or
partner that are not confidential.
Commentary: A Member may impose
reasonable conditions, such as the payment
of copying costs, on the right of departing
persons to take copies of their work.
CANON VI
Obligations to the Environment
Members should recognize and
acknowledge the professional
responsibilities they have to promote
sustainable design and development in the
natural and built environments and to
implement energy and resource conscious
design.
E.S. 6.1 Energy conservation:
Members should set ambitious
performance goals for greenhouse
gas emission reduction with their
clients for each project.
E.S. 6.2 Water Use:
Members should optimize water
conservation in each project to
reduce water use and protect
water supply, water quality, and
watershed resources.
E.S. 6.3 Building Materials:
Members should select and use
building materials to minimize
exposure to toxins and pollutants
in the environment to promote
environmental and human health
and to reduce waste and pollution.
E.S. 6.4 Ecosystems
Members should consider with
their clients the impact of each
project on the natural habitat and
ecosystem to promote
environmental and human health.
General obligations
Obligations to the Public
Obligations to the Client
Obligations to the Profession
Obligations to the Colleagues
Obligations to the Environment
Public Client Profession Colleagues Environment
General obligations
Scope, ramifications and externalities of obligations increase
https://aianova.org/pdf/codeofethics.pdf
Obligations to…
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Architects have a code of ethics made of six canons.
Interaction designers have none.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 5
E.S. 6.5 Climate Change
Members should incorporate
adaptation strategies with their
clients to anticipate extreme
weather events and minimize
adverse effects on the
environment, economy and public
health.
Rule Members shall consider with their
6.501 clients the environmental effects
of their project decisions.
RULES OF APPLICATION,
ENFORCEMENT, AND
AMENDMENT
Application
The Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct applies to the professional
activities of all members of the AIA.
Enforcement
The Bylaws of the Institute state
procedures for the enforcement of the Code
of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Such
procedures provide that:
(1) Enforcement of the Code is
administered through a National
Ethics Council, appointed by the AIA
Board of Directors.
(2) Formal charges are filed directly with
the National Ethics Council by
Members, components, or anyone
directly aggrieved by the conduct of
the Members.
(3) Penalties that may be imposed by
the National Ethics Council are:
(a) Admonition
(b) Censure
(c) Suspension of membership for
a period of time
(d) Termination of membership.
(4) Appeal procedures are available.
(5) All proceedings are confidential, as is
the imposition of an admonishment;
however, all other penalties shall be
made public.
Enforcement of Rules 4.101 and 4.202 refer
to and support enforcement of other Rules.
A violation of Rules 4.101 or 4.202 cannot
be established without proof of a pertinent
violation of at least one other Rule.
Amendment
The Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct may be amended by the
convention of the Institute under the same
procedures as are necessary to amend the
In i e B la The Code may also be
amended by the AIA Board of Directors
upon a two-thirds vote of the entire Board.
*2018 Edition. This copy of the Code of
Ethics is current as of September 6, 2018.
Con ac he General Co n el Office for
further information at (202) 626-7311.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 2
slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents
(unless extremely serious) will not rise to
the level of violation of this Rule.
Rule Members shall not engage in
1.402 conduct involving wanton
disregard of the rights of others.
Commentary: Wanton disregard under this
rule includes conduct taken in disregard of
(1) a high degree of risk that the
Complainant would be adversely affected,
and (2) that risk would be apparent to a
ea onable e on Rea onable e on i
an objective standard and considers
someone who uses such qualities as
attention, knowledge, intelligence, and
judgement which a society requires of its
members to protect their own interests and
the interests of others. Wanton disregard
under this rule also includes engaging in
conduct that is severe or pervasive enough
that a reasonable person would consider it
harassing, hostile, or abusive. This includes,
but is not limited to, sexual misconduct,
bullying, intimidation, or retaliation.
E.S. 1.5 Design for Human Dignity and the
Health, Safety, and Welfare of the
Public:
Members should employ their
professional knowledge and skill
to design buildings and spaces
that will enhance and facilitate
human dignity and the health,
safety, and welfare of the
individual and the public.
E.S. 1.6 Allied Arts and Industries:
Members should promote allied
arts and contribute to the
knowledge and capability of the
building industries as a whole.
CANON II
Obligations to the Public
Members should embrace the spirit
and letter of the law governing their
professional affairs and should promote
and serve the public interest in their
personal and professional activities.
E.S. 2.1 Conduct:
Members should uphold the law in
the conduct of their professional
activities.
Rule Members shall not, in the conduct
2.101 of their professional practice,
knowingly violate the law.
Commentary: The violation of any law, local,
state or federal, occurring in the conduct of a
Membe ofe ional ac ice i made he
basis for discipline by this rule. This includes
the federal Copyright Act, which prohibits
copying architectural works without the
permission of the copyright owner. Allegations
of violations of this rule must be based on an
independent finding of a violation of the law
by a court of competent jurisdiction or an
administrative or regulatory body.
Rule Members shall neither offer nor
2.102 make any payment or gift to a
public official with the intent of
infl encing he official j dgmen
in connection with an existing or
prospective project in which the
Members are interested.
Commentary: This rule does not prohibit
campaign contributions made in conformity
with applicable campaign financing laws.
Rule Members serving in a public
2.103 capacity shall not accept
payments or gifts which are
intended to influence their
judgment.
Rule Members shall not engage in
2.104 conduct involving fraud.
Commentary: This rule addresses serious
misconduct whether or not related to a
Membe ofe ional ac ice Proof of
fraud must be based on an independent
finding of a violation of the law or a finding of
fraud by a court of competent jurisdiction or
an administrative or regulatory body.
Rule If, in the course of their work on
2.105 a project, the Members become
aware of a decision taken by their
employer or client which violates
any law or regulation and which
ill in he Membe j dgmen
materially affect adversely the
safety to the public of the finished
project, the Members shall:
(a) advise their employer or client
against the decision,
(b) refuse to consent to the
decision, and
(c) report the decision to the local
building inspector or other
public official charged with the
enforcement of the applicable
laws and regulations, unless
the Members are able to cause
the matter to be satisfactorily
resolved by other means.
Commentary: This rule extends only to
violations of the building laws that threaten
the public safety. The obligation under this
rule applies only to the safety of the finished
project, an obligation coextensive with the
usual undertaking of an architect.
Rule Members shall not counsel or
2.106 assist a client in conduct that the
architect knows, or reasonably
should know, is fraudulent or
illegal.
E.S. 2.2 Public Interest Services:
Members should render public
interest professional services,
including pro bono services, and
encourage their employees to
render such services. Pro bono
services are those rendered
without expecting compensation,
including those rendered for
indigent persons, after disasters,
or in other emergencies.
E.S. 2.3 Civic Responsibility:
Members should be involved in
civic activities as citizens and
professionals, and should strive
to improve public appreciation
and understanding of architecture
and the functions and
responsibilities of architects.
Rule Members making public statements
2.301 on architectural issues shall
disclose when they are being
compensated for making such
statements or when they have an
economic interest in the issue.
E.S. 2.4 Environmental Equity and Justice
Members should promote fairness
and safety in providing
professional services and make
reasonable efforts to advise their
clients and employers of their
obligations to the environment,
including: access to clean air,
water, sunlight and energy for all;
sustainable production, extraction,
transportation and consumption
practices; a built environment that
equitably supports human health
and well-being and is resistant to
climate change; and restoring
F R O M T H E O F F I C E O F G E N E R A L C O U N S E L
2018 Code of Ethics and
Professional Conduct
Preamble
Members of The American Institute of Architects are dedicated to
the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence.
This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct states guidelines for
the conduct of Members in fulfilling those obligations. The Code is
arranged in three tiers of statements: Canons, Ethical Standards,
and Rules of Conduct:
Canons are broad principles of conduct.
Ethical Standards (E.S.) are more specific goals toward which
Members should aspire in professional performance and
behavior.
Rules of Conduct (Rule) are mandatory; violation of a Rule
is grounds for disciplinary action by the Institute. Rules of
Conduct, in some instances, implement more than one Canon
or Ethical Standard.
The Code applies to the professional activities of all classes of
Members, wherever they occur. It addresses responsibilities to the
public, which the profession serves and enriches; to the clients and
users of architecture and in the building industries, who help to shape
the built environment; and to the art and science of architecture, that
continuum of knowledge and creation which is the heritage and
legacy of the profession.
Commentary is provided for some of the Rules of Conduct. That
commentary is meant to clarify or elaborate the intent of the rule.
The commentary is not part of the Code. Enforcement will be
determined by application of the Rules of Conduct alone; the
commentary will assist those seeking to conform their conduct
to the Code and those charged with its enforcement.
Statement in Compliance With Antitrust Law
The following practices are not, in themselves, unethical,
unprofessional, or contrary to any policy of The American Institute
of Architects or any of its components:
(1) submitting, at any time, competitive bids or price quotations,
including in circumstances where price is the sole or principal
consideration in the selection of an architect;
(2) providing discounts; or
(3) providing free services.
Individual architects or architecture firms, acting alone and not on
behalf of the Institute or any of its components, are free to decide
for themselves whether or not to engage in any of these practices.
Antitrust law permits the Institute, its components, or Members to
advocate legislative or other government policies or actions relating
to these practices. Finally, architects should continue to consult with
state laws or regulations governing the practice of architecture.
CANON I
General Obligations
Members should maintain and advance
their knowledge of the art and science of
architecture, respect the body of
architectural accomplishment, contribute
to its growth, thoughtfully consider the
social and environmental impact of their
professional activities, and exercise learned
and uncompromised professional
judgment.
E.S. 1.1 Knowledge and Skill:
Members should strive to improve
their professional knowledge and
skill.
Rule In practicing architecture,
1.101 Members shall demonstrate a
consistent pattern of reasonable
care and competence, and shall
apply the technical knowledge and
skill which is ordinarily applied by
architects of good standing
practicing in the same locality.
Commentary: B requiring a consistent
pattern of adherence to the common law
standard of competence, this rule allows for
discipline of a Member who more than
infrequently does not achieve that standard.
Isolated instances of minor lapses would not
provide the basis for discipline.
E.S. 1.2 Standards of Excellence:
Members should continually seek
to raise the standards of aesthetic
excellence, architectural
education, research, training, and
practice.
E.S. 1.3 Natural and Cultural Heritage:
Members should respect and help
conserve their natural and cultural
heritage while striving to improve
the environment and the quality
of life within it.
E.S. 1.4 Human Rights:
Members should uphold human
rights in all their professional
endeavors.
Rule Members shall not engage in
1.401 harassment or discrimination in
their professional activities on the
basis of race, religion, national
origin, age, disability, caregiver
status, gender, gender identity, or
sexual orientation.
Commentary: Harassment may include, but
is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs,
epithets or name calling, unwelcome
physical contact, or threats, intimidation,
ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs,
offensive objects or pictures, and
interference with work performance. Petty
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 3
degraded or depleted natural
resources.
Rule When performing professional
2.401 services, Members shall make
reasonable efforts to inform their
clients of the potential
environmental impacts or
consequences the Member
reasonably believes may occur as
a result of work performed on
behalf of the clients.
CANON III
Obligations to the Client
Members should serve their clients
competently and in a professional manner,
and should exercise unprejudiced and
unbiased judgment when performing all
professional services.
E.S. 3.1 Competence:
Members should serve their
clients in a timely and competent
manner.
Rule In performing professional services,
3.101 Members shall take into account
applicable laws and regulations.
Members may rely on the advice
of other qualified persons as to
the intent and meaning of such
regulations.
Rule Members shall undertake to
3.102 perform professional services only
when they, together with those
whom they may engage as
consultants, are qualified by
education, training, or experience
in the specific technical areas
involved.
Commentary: This rule is meant to ensure
that Members not undertake projects that are
beyond their professional capacity. Members
venturing into areas that require expertise
they do not possess may obtain that expertise
by additional education, training, or through
the retention of consultants with the
necessary expertise.
Rule Members shall not materially alter
3.103 the scope or objectives of a
jec i h he clien
consent.
E.S. 3.2 Conflict of Interest:
Members should avoid conflicts of
interest in their professional
practices and fully disclose all
unavoidable conflicts as they arise.
Rule A Member shall not render
3.201 professional services if the
Membe fe i nal j dgmen
could be affected by
responsibilities to another project
e n b he Membe n
interests, unless all those who rely
n he Membe j dgmen
consent after full disclosure.
Commentary: This rule is intended to embrace
the full range of situations that may present a
Member with a conflict between his interests
or responsibilities and the interest of others.
Those who are entitled to disclosure may
include a client, owner, employer, contractor,
or others who rely on or are affected by the
Membe fe i nal deci i n A Membe
who cannot appropriately communicate about
a conflict directly with an affected person
must take steps to ensure that disclosure is
made by other means.
Rule When acting by agreement of the
3.202 parties as the independent
interpreter of building contract
documents and the judge of
contract performance, Members
shall render decisions impartially.
Commentary: This rule applies when the
Member, though paid by the owner and owing
the owner loyalty, is nonetheless required to
ac i h im a iali in f lfilling he a chi ec
professional responsibilities.
E.S. 3.3 Candor and Truthfulness:
Members should be candid and
truthful in their professional
communications and keep their
clients reasonably informed about
he clien jec
Rule Members shall not intentionally
3.301 or recklessly mislead existing or
prospective clients about the
results that can be achieved
h gh he e f he Membe
services, nor shall the Members
state that they can achieve results
by means that violate applicable
law or this Code.
Commentary: This rule is meant to preclude
dishonest, reckless, or illegal representations
by a Member either in the course of soliciting
a client or during performance.
E.S. 3.4 Confidentiality:
Members should safeguard the
trust placed in them by their
clients.
Rule Members shall not knowingly
3.401 disclose information that would
adversely affect their client or that
they have been asked to maintain
in confidence, except as otherwise
allowed or required by this Code
or applicable law.
Commentary: To encourage the full and open
exchange of information necessary for a
successful professional relationship, Members
must recognize and respect the sensitive
nature of confidential client communications.
Because the law does not recognize an
architect-client privilege, however, the rule
permits a Member to reveal a confidence
when a failure to do so would be unlawful or
contrary to another ethical duty imposed by
this Code.
CANON IV
Obligations to the Profession
Members should uphold the integrity and
dignity of the profession.
E.S. 4.1 Honesty and Fairness:
Members should pursue their
professional activities with
honesty and fairness.
Rule Members having substantial
4.101 information which leads to a
reasonable belief that another
Member has committed a
violation of this Code which raises
a serious question as to that
Membe h ne
trustworthiness, or fitness as a
Member, shall file a complaint
with the National Ethics Council.
Commentary: Often, only an architect can
recognize that the behavior of another
architect poses a serious question as to that
he fe i nal in eg i In h e
ci c m ance he d he fe i nal
calling requires that a complaint be filed. In
most jurisdictions, a complaint that invokes
professional standards is protected from a
libel or slander action if the complaint was
made in good faith. If in doubt, a Member
should seek counsel before reporting on
another under this rule.
2018 CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 4
Rule Members shall not sign or seal
4.102 drawings, specifications, reports,
or other professional work for
which they do not have
responsible control.
Commentary: Responsible control means
the degree of knowledge and supervision
ordinarily required by the professional
standard of care. With respect to the work
of licensed consultants, Members may sign
or seal such work if they have reviewed it,
coordinated its preparation, or intend to be
responsible for its adequacy.
Rule Members speaking in their
4.103 professional capacity shall not
knowingly make false statements
of material fact.
Commentary: This rule applies to statements
in all professional contexts, including
applications for licensure and AIA
membership.
E.S. 4.2 Dignity and Integrity:
Members should strive, through
their actions, to promote the
dignity and integrity of the
profession, and to ensure that
their representatives and
employees conform their conduct
to this Code.
Rule Members shall not make
4.201 misleading, deceptive, or false
statements or claims about their
professional qualifications,
experience, or performance and
shall accurately state the scope
and nature of their responsibilities
in connection with work for which
they are claiming credit.
Commentary: This rule is meant to prevent
Members from claiming or implying credit for
work which they did not do, misleading others,
and denying other participants in a project
their proper share of credit.
Rule Members shall make reasonable
4.202 efforts to ensure that those over
whom they have supervisory
authority conform their conduct to
this Code.
Commen ar Wha con i e rea onable
effor nder hi r le i a common en e
matter. As it makes sense to ensure that those
over whom the architect exercises supervision
be made generally aware of the Code, it can
also make sense to bring a particular
provision to the attention of a particular
employee when a situation is present which
might give rise to violation.
CANON V
Obligations to Colleagues
Members should respect the rights and
acknowledge the professional aspirations
and contributions of their colleagues.
E.S. 5.1 Professional Environment:
Members should provide their
colleagues and employees with
a fair and equitable working
environment, compensate them
fairly, and facilitate their
professional development.
Rule Members shall treat their
5.101 colleagues and employees with
mutual respect, and provide an
equitable working environment.
E.S. 5.2 Intern and Professional
Development:
Members should recognize and
fulfill their obligation to nurture
fellow professionals as they
progress through all stages of
their career, beginning with
professional education in the
academy, progressing through
internship and continuing
throughout their career.
Rule Members who have agreed to
5.201 work with individuals engaged in
an architectural internship
program or an experience
requirement for licensure shall
reasonably assist in proper and
timely documentation in
accordance with that program.
E.S. 5.3 Professional Recognition:
Members should build their
professional reputation on the
merits of their own service and
performance and should recognize
and give credit to others for the
professional work they have
performed.
Rule Members shall recognize and
5.301 respect the professional
contributions of their employees,
employers, professional
colleagues, and business
associates.
Rule Members leaving a firm shall not,
5.302 without the permission of their
employer or partner, take designs,
drawings, data, reports, notes, or
other materials relating to the
firm ork he her or no
performed by the Member.
Rule A Member shall not unreasonably
5.303 withhold permission from a
departing employee or partner to
take copies of designs, drawings,
data, reports, notes, or other
materials relating to work
performed by the employee or
partner that are not confidential.
Commentary: A Member may impose
reasonable conditions, such as the payment
of copying costs, on the right of departing
persons to take copies of their work.
CANON VI
Obligations to the Environment
Members should recognize and
acknowledge the professional
responsibilities they have to promote
sustainable design and development in the
natural and built environments and to
implement energy and resource conscious
design.
E.S. 6.1 Energy conservation:
Members should set ambitious
performance goals for greenhouse
gas emission reduction with their
clients for each project.
E.S. 6.2 Water Use:
Members should optimize water
conservation in each project to
reduce water use and protect
water supply, water quality, and
watershed resources.
E.S. 6.3 Building Materials:
Members should select and use
building materials to minimize
exposure to toxins and pollutants
in the environment to promote
environmental and human health
and to reduce waste and pollution.
E.S. 6.4 Ecosystems
Members should consider with
their clients the impact of each
project on the natural habitat and
ecosystem to promote
environmental and human health.
General obligations
Obligations to the Public
Obligations to the Client
Obligations to the Profession
Obligations to the Colleagues
Obligations to the Environment
Public Client Profession Colleagues Environment
General obligations
Scope, ramifications and externalities of obligations increase
https://aianova.org/pdf/codeofethics.pdf
Obligations to…
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
https://uxpamagazine.org/developing-a-code-of-ethics
WELL Building Standard
Quality standards including filtration, cleaning
protocols, microbe control, material safety
Testing and monitoring to control public water
additives and system contaminants.
Promoting of healthy food options, nutrition
labeling, safe food preparation and sourcing
Glare-free and circadian lighting design, effects of
surfaces and contrast, light quality, daylighting
Active design enhanced ergonomics, activity
incentives, and structured fitness programs
Maximum thermal comfort by meeting individual
thermal preferences
Identify and mitigate parameters
of acoustical comfort
Reduce human exposure to hazardous building
materials known to be toxic
Organizational policies and transparency,
biophilic design, flexible and adaptable spaces
Establish inclusive, integrated communities
through social equity and civic engagement
Find new ways to go beyond the standard to
create healthy environments
Innovations
Air
Water
Nourishment
Light
Movement
Thermal
comfort
Sound
Materials
Mind
Community
Proposed UX Design Ethics (Shamonsky, 2018)
Reduce obstacles to those with disabilities
including vision, hearing and dexterity
Appropriate, safe and non-damaging
for human bodies
Take care with potential life-risking apps such as
self-driving cars, robotic surgery, etc.
Use calm tech when appropriate,
discourage addiction and distraction
Mobility, wearables, fitness, healthy lifestyle
Consider the aesthetic effects, don’t be
annoying, unpleasant or unnecessary
Be transparent about dark GUI patterns, promote
awareness of invisible/ubiquitous computing
Understand what, when and why of gathered
personal data and protect privacy
Natural, intuitive, or, when appropriate,
learnable user experiences
Manage bullying, social isolation and fakes news
Use new technology to create more natural
and beautiful user experiences
Innovations
Accessibility
Ergonomics
Safety
Appropriate
Attention
Movement
Beauty
Transparency
Security
Mind
Community
Designers have tried to
adapt other standards
to what we do…
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
General obligations
Obligations to the Public
Obligations to the Client
Obligations to the Profession
Obligations to the Colleagues
Obligations to the Environment
CHALLENGE 2
Write your own code of ethics.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance (1983)
When an architect fails, a building falls...
What falls when a designer fails?
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust: World Interaction Design Day · Sept 24, 2019
CHALLENGE 3
Write your own unique challenge.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
The self-renewing person remembers
Antaeus—invincible in wresting as long
as he remained in contact with the earth.
A periodic return to the solid earth of
direct experience.
Certain kinds of creativity require a
reasonable margin of abundance.
aletheia
The Greek story of Antaeus is important.
William Blake, Antaeus sets down Dante and Virgil
A wrestler, Antaeus was invincible, so as long as
he remained in contact with the earth.
Cassini Nazir · The Shape of Trust
William Blake, Antaeus sets down Dante and Virgil
Cassini Nazir
Clinical Associate Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas
@cassininazir
Dallas
Like Antaeus, what things help keep you grounded?