Ethics in Design: A Practical Guide
In our daily lives, we are heavily influenced by the devices and digital products we use. From social media likes to flash sales to news alerts, throughout the day, the information and interfaces we encounter shape how we think, act and feel.
Influential products exist to create profits for the companies that own and develop them. Engaged users aren’t just a sign of great UX—from a business standpoint, they signal more profits, more market share.
A successful product with engaged users isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Products and their users can have a mutually rewarding relationship, where the product derives revenue from its users, who in turn derive important benefits from the product. A clear win-win formula, and one that has been central to commerce throughout the ages.
The problem arises when companies—and the designers who work for them—actively set out to make their products addictive and influential to a harmful degree. Because modern lives are regulated, surveilled and shaped by the devices in users’ hands and homes, designers have a moral responsibility to design for good—to design ethically.
Yet, it can be incredibly challenging to define what ethical design decisions look like in practice. In many design projects, the ethical dimension appears to be a murky grey area that brings more doubts than decisions to the design process. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.
In this Master Class, Guthrie Weinschenk will show you how to really know if the products and services you create are ethical. You’ll learn:
- How to identify an ethical nudge versus an unethical manipulation
- What nudges, mandates, coercions and manipulations are, and how they differ from each other
- A formula to calculate how ethical your products and services are
- Behavioral science methods and techniques that inform unethical (and quasi-ethical) tactics
- The 4 ways that prevent organizations from using these tactics
- Real-world examples of ethical and unethical design decisions
Ethical design has always been a moral imperative—but it is quickly becoming much more than that. With privacy regulations such as GDPR, laws governing the right to repair and changing industry standards for inclusion and accessibility, designers need to be trained in ethical design practices to secure their own futures and to build products for the betterment of all.
Speaker
Guthrie Weinschenk is a Behavioral Economist and the COO of The Team W, Inc.
He has a degree in Economics, a law degree, and is a licensed attorney. He consults, teaches, and specializes in business strategy, behavioral economics, and ethics. He is the host of the podcast Human Tech and author of I Love You, Now Read This Book. (It's About Human Decision Making and Behavioral Economics).
You can follow Guthrie's work on The Team W website or on Instagram @guthrieweinschenk
Don’t miss another UX Master Classes
Discover upcoming UX Master Classes and get design tips when you sign up for our weekly newsletter!
Get A Certificate of Participation
You’ll get a certificate after every Master Class you attend. Use your Certificate on your LinkedIn to showcase that you got advice and insights from design masters.
Prove to managers and clients that you're committed to upskilling yourself.
Organized by the Interaction Design Foundation
Get advice and insights from design masters through our webinar series. Learn more about how we are revolutionizing design education worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are design skills so important right now?
Design skills are incredibly valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Salaries for people who learn design are soaring, surpassing $200K in cities like San Francisco, with global job growth rates at 13%.
Many of your job competitors already possess design skills. When you enhance your design skills you can significantly elevate your personal brand and make you a more attractive candidate.
You learn skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
You can ignite your passion through design and leverage it to make a meaningful impact.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Your design skills can help increase sales, keep customers loyal, and turn them into powerful advocates of your company. That’s because design is all about helping people reach their goals and meet their needs.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by a whopping 228%.
Design goes way beyond creating attractive visuals and aesthetics. When you possess design skills you’re equipped to revolutionize businesses, make technology more user-friendly, and innovate customer experiences and systems.
I’m not a designer. Why should I learn design and tech?
Design and tech skills can make you an indispensable asset to your company and open up career opportunities.
For example, if you’re in a field such as:
Marketing, Communication and HR
Software Development
Customer Service
Business
Psychology
Project Management
Architecture
Content Creation
Healthcare
Teaching
And other fields
Why can design skills make you valuable in all these jobs and industries?
That’s because design skills are incredibly valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Salaries for people who learn design are soaring, surpassing $200K in cities like San Francisco, with global job growth rates at 13%.
Many of your job competitors already possess design skills. When you enhance your design skills you can significantly elevate your personal brand and make you a more attractive candidate.
You learn skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
You can ignite your passion through design and leverage it to make a meaningful impact.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Your design skills can help increase sales, keep customers loyal, and turn them into powerful advocates of your company. That’s because design is all about helping people reach their goals and meet their needs.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by a whopping 228%.
Design goes way beyond creating attractive visuals and aesthetics. When you possess design skills you’re equipped to revolutionize businesses, make technology more user-friendly, and innovate customer experiences and systems.
How can design skills protect me from losing my job to AI?
AI is killing jobs in all industries. Humanity has never faced such a powerful force, developing at an exponential speed.
You can protect yourself by learning design: You’ll use the very fabric of being human, like empathy and intuition. AI never can never replace that. These skills are timeless and will stay with you forever.
Design is centered on human needs and goals. That’s why you can protect your future with the power of human-centered design. Mastering these skills can shield you from AI-driven disruptions.
We’ll even teach you how to use AI as your career helper, not your terminator.
Do I need any prior experience in design or tech?
Good news!
You don’t need any prerequisites or prior experience in design or tech. We’ve crafted the learning experience to ensure your success and real career outcomes, regardless of your age or background.
Will I receive a Certificate?
Yes! After you finish, you’ll receive an industry-recognized IxDF Certificate.
Use your IxDF Certificates to increase your credibility and salary potential. Your employer and clients will trust you when you can prove that you’ve learned from the best.
Be in distinguished company, alongside industry leaders who train their teams with the IxDF and trust IxDF Certificates.
Add IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps.
You can download your certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. Certificates are always valid.
How do I add the IxDF Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
That’s easy! You can use your IxDF Certificates to increase your credibility and salary potential. Your employer and clients will trust you when you can prove that you’ve learned from the best.
Add your IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps:
Click “Add profile section” on your LinkedIn
Tap “Recommended”
Select “Add licenses or certifications”
Enter your IxDF Certificate details
Hit “Save”
You can download your IxDF Certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. IxDF Certificates are always valid.
Need more detailed instructions?
How can the global and local IxDF community help me?
We can help you in several ways.
Join meet-ups in your city: Join the regular meet-ups in your city in a nearby cafe or office building to have fun and learn with people just like you. You get full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find your next job, enjoy yourself and learn from your peers. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across over 500 cities worldwide. Your network is your net worth.
Get instant help and career advice in IxDF online global communities. Build your global network through the supportive IxDF community. Earn IxDF Distinctions like “Community Influencer'' and “Social Impact Award”.
Learn from global leaders and build your network and job opportunities locally and globally.
I just signed up for a live Master Class. What's next?
I just signed up for a live Master Class. What's next?
Wonderful! When you sign up for a Master Class, you’ll receive an email from Zoom with a link to join the live Master Class.
This email is sent from noreply@zoom.us - please check your spam folder.
If you can’t find the email, please reach out to mads.soegaard@interaction-design.org and we’re super happy to help you!
Great news! You’ll also get an on-demand version of your Master Class a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page.
That way, you can view the Master Class on-demand at any time. As many times as you wish.
Will the live Master Class be recorded and become available on-demand?
Absolutely!
When you sign up for a live Master Class, you’ll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you’re an IxDF member. If you’re not a member, you’ll receive your recording by email.
You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.
What if I can’t attend a live Master Class?
Great news! We’ve got you covered.
When you sign up for the live Master Class, you’ll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you’re an IxDF member. If you’re not a member, you’ll receive your recording by email.
You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.
What if I have more questions?
What if I have more questions?
We’d love to hear from you and help you!
Reach out to us at hello@interaction-design.org or use the online contact form.