The Untold Benefits of Ethical Design

Holger Bartel Designer/Developer Hong Kong h@foobartel.com Twitter: @foobartel

Build a “Better” Product User Interests & Benefits Challenge Status Quo Ethics at the Core

Ethical Design

1 ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values the present-day materialistic ethic an old-fashioned work ethic —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction an elaborate ethicsChristian ethics b ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group professional ethics c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance forge a conservation ethic 3 ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness) debated the ethics of human cloning

A Guiding Philosophy

The discipline of dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

Ethical Design: Design created with the intent to do good.

Design with good intent can still go wrong.

We spend a lot of time thinking about tools, technologies and frameworks. How much time do you spend thinking about the impact of what you’re building? @foobartel

“Make the world a better place”

Surveillance Capitalism Note

Data against People “Systems that make decisions about people based on their data produce substantial adverse effects that can massively limit their choices, opportunities, and life-chances”. http://crackedlabs.org/en/data-against-people

Dark Patterns

Dark Patterns are tricks that make users do things that you didn't mean to.

Dark Patterns pressure users into making a decision.

Dark Patterns suck.

Stress Loss Aversion Anxiety

Stressed, anyone?

Human Centered Design What’s really good for our users?

User Experience

Accessibility Inclusivity User Flows Impact Copy Writing Legibility User Experience Performance Respect Security Privacy Responsibility

If you don’t consider these essentials for your “great” user experience, it will only be “so great!” for some of us. @foobartel

When designing, we have a responsibility that will eventually define the relationship of our users to our product. @foobartel

I want some peace of mind!

Note Sou

“Another day, another breach. It still blows my mind how frequently this happens.” –Troy Hunt

We’re spending a lot of time thinking about how to collect more and more data. How much time do you spend thinking about how to secure that data? @foobartel

Security Rule #1 The data you don’t have stored, can’t be leaked, lost or stolen. @foobartel

Web Performance

OMG! 9MB? 8 Hero Images? $^#&*$?

Respecting Users

Respect your users. Happy users will be much more likely to forgive. @foobartel

Rethinking the Approach

The Internet is still young and we are experimenting.

1885

1910

1885 1910

1885 1910 1950

1885 1910 1950 1970

1885 1910 1950 1970 2015

1885 1910 1950 1970 2015 2018

The Internet is still young and we are experimenting. For a sustainable future we might have to reconsider and adjust the direction.

We have learned how to build stuff. Now it’s time to get people focused essentials built in.

Essentials for a Future Web

JavaScript HTML CSS Web Standards Web Essentials Privacy Security Responsibility

JavaScript HTML CSS Web Essentials Privacy Security Responsibility

Too much work!

“We don’t have a budget for that CSS thing!” –Nobody, ever

“People are starting to really care about companies having heart. The mentality of maximizing growth at any cost will in fact no longer maximize growth. […] They want companies that do good in the world and do right by their team. –Joel Gascoigne, Buffer

How would you like to be treated? What are you willing to do for it?

Accessibility Inclusivity Responsibility

Data Tracking Privacy Web Performance

Security

Great! But…

“Don’t ask how you’re going to pay your rent working ethically. Ask why you’re open to behaving unethically in the first place.” —Mike Monteiro

We need to get our values right. @foobartel

By thinking about the user, how to treat and what to serve them, it’s possible to achieve better performance, offer improved privacy and security and become better at our craft. @foobartel

A moral compass.

We can start with the small things and make the web and our experiences more pleasant. And then go from there.

Design with the intent to do good.

Design with the intent to do good better. @foobartel

Do better every day. @foobartel

Thank you. Find me on Twitter: @foobartel