What is Responsible Design?

A reminder of what Responsible Design entails for me.

Graphic presentation of the definition of Responsible Design (repeated in the body of the article)

Responsible Design prioritizes respect, equity and sustainability
in the design of businesses, products and services.

Design

Is rooted in human-centric design

Design starts from humans and their needs, it is collaborative and iterative.
At the same time, Design practices have often focused on short-term gains like user satisfaction and have harmed people, societies and the environment.

​Responsible Design evolves the discipline of Design. It enlarges its scope and complexity to include the physical, social and environmental context in which people live.

Respect

Supports people’s identity, safety, privacy, wellbeing and development.

As users, businesses prioritizes people based on their ability to spend, either with money, attention or data.
This system leads to exclusion, loss of safety and privacy, addiction, depression, anxiety and it impacts people’s cognitive and emotional skills.

Responsible Design prioritizes access, safety, privacy and ultimately people long-term wellbeing over their short-term satisfaction.

Equity

Adopts a collective perspective and celebrates diverse points of views.

Businesses and technologies that have focused on short-term returns have contributed to toxic working (and living) environments and to the systemic marginalization of people due to their abilities, race, gender expression, body size, economic status…​

Responsible Design prioritizes the creation of safe spaces for all, fuelled by radical collaboration and re-distribution of control.

Sustainability

Is mindful of natural resources and the full lifecycle of businesses.

Digital is physical in the form of materials required to build technology, data centers and electricity used, logistics and distribution of online operations like e-commerces and in the tons of e-waste generated every day.

Responsible Design prioritizes low-consumption options and usage of renewable energy sources. It supports the shift towards circular and regenerative systems and businesses.