Published on <a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/ethical-design-1cd61f4d2b5c?source=rss----eb297ea1161a---4">| Prototyping: From UX to Front End &mdash; Medium</a> Chesway Theway <img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*7OY9yz_YrMixDAXjhiXb_g.png">
<h4>IS ETHICAL</h4>
<h3>eth·ics</h3>
<h4>ˈeTHiks/</h4>
noun plural noun: ethics; noun: ethics
moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity. “medical ethics also enter into the question”
synonyms:moral code, morals, morality, values, rights and wrongs, principles, ideals, standards (of behavior), value system, virtues, dictates of conscience
<blockquote>“your so-called app is clearly not burdened by a sense of ethics”</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>the moral correctness of specified conduct.</li>
<li>“many scientists question the ethics of cruel experiments”</li>
<li>the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Art shapes society (And so does design)</h4>
Back in 1999, I remember how important art was to me, as it could inspire. Either inspire for good or for evil. Art shaped society, just as music defines the culture or period. Artists were role models, good or bad.
If you think of all the areas art &amp; design touches, from reason, imagination, our senses &amp; emotions. Artists are morally obligated when it comes to the work they produce. So too for all Human Centered practitioners, Creatives, UX’ers, designers, writers…etc (I’m just calling them all creatives from now on…these lines are all blurred, and distinctions mean nothing).
I met a musician once, who explained how various frequencies of music can affect people. Some will trigger anger in the listener, or love. He told me, that he wanted to use this knowledge to make people angry and to spread evil. My question to him was,
<blockquote>“If this is true, and you can spread love, why would you choose to blatantly hurt others”. He said, “Because I can”.</blockquote>
Now, I don’t know if he really is able to manipulate emotions and able to bring out evil in people. I didn’t think he was a very good musician. His music sounded like messy vibrations, just dirty sounds. So I believe the world’s ears and minds are still safe. But I do know of music to enhance focus or when used in therapy to deal with painful emotions. So it is highly likely you can brainwash people with music, just look at how music (or repetitive beats) are used to enable trances in groups or prepare soldiers when marching to war.
The question I have, is shouldn’t all creatives live by a moral code? Do we not all become creatives because we want to create and share with the world. Is inspiring and helping others not the main reason we choose this route? Is it not with the view of society as a whole and looking for ways to best be part of society by contributing to it’s benefit? Or am I naive?
<blockquote>Or put this way, designers provide a service. Everyone who provides a service should have a code of ethics. The whole point of being in service is to help…</blockquote>
<h4>Not all ideas should be shared or not all inventions should be made</h4>
Have a look at Einstein and his biggest regret.
<a href="http://www.history.com/topics/albert-einstein/videos/einstein-regret">Einstein: Regret Video &#8211; Albert Einstein &#8211; HISTORY.com</a>
Regarding Einstein above, although he wasn’t directly responsible, his work led to the creation of the atomic bomb. Therefore, he’s still responsible.
After seeing the effects of the bomb, it remained one of Einsteins biggest regrets. For Szilard, who helped write the letter which started the Manhattan project, his after thoughts:
<blockquote>“You don’t think of those effects, you think of solving the immediate problems”.</blockquote>
<blockquote>— Leo Szilard ( quit physics and focused on biology after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima)</blockquote>
Thereafter, “The Manifesto for the Abolition of War” was formulated by Bertrand Russell and signed by Albert Einstein issued to the world July 1955
The manifesto called for a conference where scientists would assess the dangers posed to the survival of humanity by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction">weapons of mass destruction</a>. Most importantly, for the meeting to be politically neutral. It extended the question of nuclear weapons to all people and governments. One phrase quoted often, upon receipt of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize">Nobel Peace Prize</a> in 1995:
<blockquote>Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.</blockquote>
WE as a collective, need to assess the dangers imposed on humanity, by the media and technology if used to manipulate instead of help.
<h4>Think short term &amp; long term effects &amp; results</h4>
That’s the problem with a lot of the work that is created. At times, you can be pushed by clients to solve their immediate problems, where they read something online, and they jump to a solution. They don’t want to acknowledge the long term consequences of these actions. eg. replacing 1000 staff members with new tech. ( What happens to the 1000 people? What are we putting in place for them, to assist them so they can still be productive in other ways? Training? What? You can’t just decide to throw away 1000 lives…I don’t need a degree in Ethics to see that it completely unethical ). I understand it makes “business sense”, to reduce costs . But that seems like bad business on the whole. It ultimately isn’t reducing costs, it’s incurring more costs to retrain and facilitate new learning. (Although I still believe this is the best ROI is education in the long run). I don’t believe that all bad choices come from business decisions.
But I have seen many business and marketing decisions which made me not work with them.
I am 100% behind creating effective workflows, and I love technology…but to enhance what the user is currently doing, not to completely eliminate the user. Increase productivity and quality, will automatically increase your sales. You don’t just cut out people to cut costs. And if in cases where tech will be more effective, and doesn’t rely on human interactions, then there needs to be a back up plan in place for the replaced worker. Where the worker can simply shift from one workflow to another. But not eliminate them. What happens to their lives? Their families? What if it’s a single mom or dad? No don’t be evil. You don’t just throw people away.
<h4>You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat others</h4>
When taking on a new client, observe how they treat their staff/team members. It’s the same principle as the “waiter test”. See how a client treats anyone who assists or serves…eg. any staff member, waiter in a restaurant. And then you’ll see their true colours. Then you know how they’ll treat you, as you’re also providing a service to them. Don’t work with rude people, for fear of their rudeness rubbing off on you.
<h4>Warnings &amp; restrictions</h4>
We know when it comes to VR, you need to warn your users to not exceed 30min at a time. All games and films have age restrictions. Your internet browser, you can set restrictions for your kids. Your Facebook page you can set to have restrictions as well, if you have content which is inappropriate for kids. This is basic common sense. But we can’t take for granted that everyone has common sense.
<blockquote>I know that guidelines or institutions can never control a creation or invention completely;</blockquote>
Society will do whatever they want to, the creator cannot maintain perfect control. But there is a certain control which creators as a collective can take. By supporting endevours which promote humanity. And not dealing with anyone who manipulates the system or the user in any negative way (ie. compromising people just for profit isn’t ethical — people come first in any business endevour, make sure you’re tailoring the best outcomes for people…your product wouldn’t exist without them).
<blockquote>So, in light of this, I have created my own set of rules. This is a collection of issues I’ve come across working with other designers, developers, businesses and clients in general. This is from the perspective of all the characters I’ve played over the years, from employee, designer, sole proprietor and client. These are my rules, as well as a collection of resources I’ve found along the way.</blockquote>
<a href="https://medium.com/@theway/designerdmanifesto-a44ce97e47b6">Updated Design Manifesto (Design.erd)</a> N E X T →
← P R E V I O U S <a href="https://medium.com/@theway/the-dark-side-of-design-912132c2b845">The dark side of design : Malicious practices</a>
<blockquote>I write, about what fascinates me. I write about what I see, and what I believe is missing in the world, and about what matters to me. I don’t get paid to write. This is my voice, and I don’t have to change my words for any sponsor. I choose who I align myself with.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/ethical-design-1cd61f4d2b5c">GOOD DESIGN</a> was originally published in <a href="https://blog.prototypr.io">prototypr</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

GOOD DESIGN

IS ETHICAL

eth·ics

ˈeTHiks/

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