Ethical design is not a spectator sport

This was a workshop delivered at UX London on June 28, 2022.

Read more here: https://2022.uxlondon.com/speakers/kat-zhou/

Transcript

1. KAT ZHOU (she/her) @KatherineMZhou <DESIGN ETHICALLY> the workshop!!
2. www.designethically.com
3. THIS IS NOT A MAGIC WAND.
4. AGENDA 1. Introduction 2. Framework 3. Power / Activity 4. Break 5. Methodology / Activity 6. Break 7. Activity / Advocacy
5. INTRO
6. CODE OF CONDUCT 1. Use welcoming & inclusive language 2. Be respectful of different viewpoints and experiences 3. Actively listen when others are contributing 4. Take breaks when needed 5. Vegas rules: learning leaves but personal stories stay 6. Have fun!!
7. INTRODUCE YOURSELF 1. Name 2. Preferred pronouns 3. Where you practice your UX chops?
8. GOALS FOR TODAY 1. Go over <Design Ethically> framework and understand how you can redesign the design process 2. Understand how power affects the tech and design industries 3. Apply <Design Ethically> methodology to a product 4. Explore ways to advocate within tech
9. FRAMEWORK
10. REDESIGNING THE DESIGN PROCESS
11. INTENTS RESULTS Is this problem a worthy problem to solve? What consequences does our solution have?
12. INTENTS RESULTS EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST
13. INTENTS RESULTS EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR ship! ^ Is the problem statement we defined even ethically worthy of being addressed?
14. RESULTS Can any ethical violations occur if we implement this idea? What are they? EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR ship! ^ INTENTS
15. RESULTS Are there any new ethical issues occurring? How can we design around them? EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR ship! ^ INTENTS
16. RESULTS EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR INTENTS CAN WE MAKE A HABIT OUT OF THIS?
17. RESULTS EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR INTENTS CAN WE ENSURE WE STAY SOCIALLY- EMBEDDED IN OUR PRACTICE?
18. WHAT IS POWER?
19. The ability or official authority to decide what is best for others. The ability to decide who will have access to resources. The capacity to exercise control over others. Leaven 2003 Doing Our Own Work: A Seminar for Anti-Racist White Women Visions, Inc. and the MSU Extension Multicultural Awareness Workshop
20. Leaven 2003 Doing Our Own Work: A Seminar for Anti-Racist White Women Visions, Inc. and the MSU Extension Multicultural Awareness Workshop AGENTS DISCRIMINATE, 
 MARGINALIZE, EXPLOIT, DISENFRANCHISE TARGETS
21. Leaven 2003 Doing Our Own Work Visions, Inc. and the MSU Extension Multicultural Awareness Workshop AGENTS OPPRESS TARGETS
22. 2020 USC Suzanne Dworkek-Peck Diversity Toolkit IDENTITIES religion/ spirituality sexual orientation race/ ethnicity ability/ disability age gender neurodiversity class education
23. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How might designers have power over others? 2. How might tech companies have power within societies? 3. How might technology reinforce oppression? 10 min
24. SUBVERSIVE DESIGN
25. FingerWorks TouchStream
26. W3C Accessibility Principles
27. Signal
28. CONSIDERATION CARDS
29. making a task easier discriminating exploiting anyone making people dependent putting others down magnifying social issues spreading misinformation connecting people creating entertainment spreading information functioning as a useful tool enhancing commerce + -
30. BRAINSTORM IN GROUPS 1. Think of products with just one positive aspect. 2. Think of products with a positive aspect and a negative one. 3. Think of products with multiple positive and negative aspects. 10 min
31. BREAK
32. ACTIVITY
33. RESULTS Can any ethical violations occur if we implement this idea? What are they? EMPATHIZE DEFINE IDEATE PROTOTYPE TEST EVALUATE FORECAST MONITOR ship! ^ INTENTS
34. Unforeseen Consequences unintended consequences
35. Unforeseen Consequences unintended consequences
36. LAYERS OF EFFECT PRIMARY intended, known SECONDARY intended, also known TERTIARY unintended, possibly known
39. DESIGNERS SHOULD… 1. Define and design ethical primary and secondary effects 2. Forecast tertiary effects and ensure they pose no significant harm *anti-racist, abolitionist, sustainable, compassionate, reparative, equitable *not just for the elite, but also for the most vulnerable in our societies
40. FORECASTING TOOLKIT behavioral economics history ethnography intuition literature sociology political science introspection future studies
41. CHOOSE YOUR PRODUCT
42. 360 REVIEW
43. LIST ALL ENTITIES IN THE SYSTEM system a web of interrelated entities
44. LIST ALL ENTITIES IN THE SYSTEM system ex. Bay Area housing market, the Brazilian rainforest, tourism industry in Prague, etc.
45. LIST ALL ENTITIES IN THE SYSTEM entity literally anything, anyone, or any construct that exists within the system yayy recursive definitions!!
46. LIST ALL ENTITIES IN THE SYSTEM yayy recursive definitions!! entity ex. hotels in Prague, Czech government, local residents in Prague, public transportation, etc.
47. CONNECT THE ENTITIES power capacity of an entitity to in fl uence the states of other entities
48. CONNECT THE ENTITIES symbiotic draw a solid line between two entities if they have a symbiotic power dynamic
49. CONNECT THE ENTITIES tense draw a dotted line between two entities if they have a tense power dynamic
51. DICHOTOMY MAPPING
52. LIST BENEFICIAL ASPECTS macro affects a family, a neighborhood, a community, a nation, etc. ex. Airbnb stimulates the local economy by bringing in tourists
53. LIST BENEFICIAL ASPECTS micro affects an individual ex. Airbnb provides cheap but comfortable lodging for the traveler
54. LIST HARMFUL ASPECTS ex. Airbnb provides cheap but comfortable lodging for the traveler
55. LIST HARMFUL ASPECTS macro affects a family, a neighborhood, a community, a nation, etc. ex. Airbnb can play into gentrifying neighborhoods
56. LIST HARMFUL ASPECTS ex. potential danger for hosts & guests if Airbnb is abused micro affects an individual
57. BREAK
58. REDESIGNING YOUR PRODUCT
59. THINGS TO CONSIDER… 1. How would you redesign your product, considering all the tertiary effects? 2. What systemic factors relating to power need to be addressed? 3. Are there non-tech alternatives to your product? 10 min
60. ADVOCACY
61. RETHINKING METRICS 1. What are the underlying incentives behind the metrics of success that you use? 2. Are any of those metrics proxies? How would you classify their effectiveness? 3. How might you use metrics that align more with well- being for your users/society/ the planet? 5 min
62. MAKING A CASE… 1. What is the mission statement of your company/ team/product? 2. What are potential barriers in your organization for ethical design? 3. Have you ever spoken up about something at work? What was that like? 5 min
63. THANKS!