This document discusses the need for an ethics framework and taxonomy for user experience (UX) design. It identifies 16 categories of ethical issues in UX design, including dark patterns, addictive design, privacy, exclusion and more. The document proposes three primary categories for the framework: existential values, ill or misplaced intent, and benevolent intent. It concludes by discussing potential solutions like a design code of ethics and exercises to help address these important issues.
2. Why is this a pertinent topic and why should you
care?
Why design ethics?
1
What would we do with a framework or a
categorization of ethical issues?
Where do we go from here?
3
What types of ethical issues exist as related to
design.
What are the issues?
2
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3. Financial Impact
Financial loss for individuals, business and
nations
3
Social Impact
The marginalization of groups, political parties,
underserved and disabled
4
Physical Harm
Death and injury are well documented as a result
of design - healthcare, airlines, etc.
1
Emotional Harm
Designs can induce emotions - anger, grief,
anxiety, etc.
2
Why Design
Ethics?
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28. Is it ethical to make a decision for a user even if
we have the best intentions?
Default Selection
How do we choose which content to push forward
and which to bury?
Curating Content
In healthcare we often attempt to regulate users
through decision support in software.
Clinical Decision Support
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63. AUX designer must protect his or her own
existence as long as such development does
not conflict with the First or Second Law.
3
AUX designer may not injure a user or,
through inaction, allow a user to come to
harm.
1
AUX designer must meet the business
requirements except where such
requirements would conflict with the First
Law.
2
ADesign Code of
Ethics
Peter Hornsby. “The Ethics of User Experience Design.” UX Matters, 2017.
https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2017/11/the-ethics-of-user-experience-design.php @chris_kiess