The level at which designs prioritize ethical sourcing, production practices, and responsibility.
Products, services, and systems that are ethically sourced and produced often resonate with users who value corporate social responsibility and sustainability. These users are increasingly willing to invest in ethically designed products, even if they come at a higher cost, because they align with their personal values and ethical standards. The demand for transparency in production practices and the desire to support companies that prioritize ethical considerations reflect a growing awareness of the impact of consumer choices on global issues like environmental sustainability and fair labor practices.
Designs that integrate ethical considerations appeal to peoples’ moral and ethical sensibilities and build stronger, more trusting relationships between brands and their audiences. For example, a clothing brand that uses organic materials and ensures fair wages for its workers can create a loyal customer base that values these principles over cheaper alternatives. This shift towards ethical consumption demonstrates that many users look beyond immediate benefits and consider the broader implications of their purchases.
Examples of Ethics
- Fair Trade-certified coffee
- Patagonia’s recycled outdoor clothing
- TOMS’ one-for-one shoe donation program
- Method’s biodegradable cleaning products
- Ecosia’s tree-planting search engine
Keywords
Sources
Design
Papanek, V. (2022). The Green Imperative: Ecology and Ethics in Design and Architecture. Thames & Hudson.
Papanek, V. J. (1985). Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change. Academy Chicago.
van de Poel, I. (2009). Values in Engineering Design. In A. Meijers (Ed.), Philosophy of Technology and Engineering Sciences (pp. 973–1006). North-Holland. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-51667-1.50040-9
Yetim, F. (2011). Bringing Discourse Ethics to Value Sensitive Design: Pathways toward a Deliberative Future. AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction, 3(2), 133–155. https://aisel.aisnet.org/thci/vol3/iss2/5/
Humanities
Winner, L. (1980). Do Artifacts Have Politics? Daedalus, 109(1), 121–136.