Hopefully will be able to share nuggets and thoughts re; the #CriticalUX conference hosted by @hmntycntrd in this 🧵:
@otlhogilegordon mentioned that designers have power in the work they do, in the sense that we’re “engaged in a gatekeeping process about what the future artifact you’re going to build, should look like”
@justinthrelkeld touched on power in design includes increasing or decreasing the amount or range of something available to others who may not have that (e.g. what decisions are being made in creating something)
@albanvillamil touched on how participatory and co-design may seem like a good approach to sharing power but there may always be an inherent asymmetry of power and can inadvertently erase what power folks have
There are many performative instances of power, and corps try to “hop on the bandwagon” or the latest shift of power as a way to brand themselves and capitalize. So how do we overcome this?
- work w/ppl not like you
- the Appropriate tech mvmt tried not to “import” solutions
- try to find the problem at its core location as a way to start building solutions
- think of folks as experts in their own lives and experiences
- the Appropriate tech mvmt tried not to “import” solutions
- try to find the problem at its core location as a way to start building solutions
- think of folks as experts in their own lives and experiences
@otlhogilegordon: “The system is built up in a way that makes it hard to imagine anything else. All design is compromised […] we have to make decisions on how to go one way vs another”
“Building design equity into work is a craft many have been trying to do for decades”
But of course we don’t hear about these stories enough because of who controls the narrative
But of course we don’t hear about these stories enough because of who controls the narrative
Pedagogy of the Oppressed is a must-read in the context of doing this work of dismantle oppressive structures and understanding power dynamics
What is the designer’s role in responding to oppressive situations and power dynamics, vs managing them?
When you’re free, talking to your oppressor about how they’ve been oppressing folks isn’t productive especially if they know and continue to perpetuate the cycle
When you’re free, talking to your oppressor about how they’ve been oppressing folks isn’t productive especially if they know and continue to perpetuate the cycle
However, designers are contracted to advance their institutions’ mission. So on the other hand we have to educate the institutions on how their use of power can be damaging. It’s a delicate balance to find and requires learning how folks learn
@cydharrell with an amazing fallout in the chat: “[…] designers attempting to emulate the successful power play by engineers to get those ‘seats at the table’”
This seems like an exercise in “replicating moncarchy,” as @otlhogilegordon eloquently puts it
This seems like an exercise in “replicating moncarchy,” as @otlhogilegordon eloquently puts it
*CALLOUT -.- autocorrect is so stupid I swear
Per @justinthrelkeld: We’re lacking imagination for folks impacted by products and systems vs imagining what things looks like for folks already “in the room,” so to speak.
We wouldn’t want to live in someone else’s imagination so why should we force others to live in ours?
We wouldn’t want to live in someone else’s imagination so why should we force others to live in ours?
Asking/forcing ppl to lead/do something if they don’t want to can inherently take away their agency and freedom. Give them the space to decide for themselves
Also, remember your own agency in situations (e.g. you might have power in a situation where someone else won’t)
Also, remember your own agency in situations (e.g. you might have power in a situation where someone else won’t)
Ultimately when in a position of power, to again quote @otlhogilegordon: “stop playing with people’s lives”
Per @alinaivette2: there is hope yet in looking at ppl worldwide who are resisting/challenging oppressive structures and powers DAILY. This can take many forms
Design existed before colonialism and mercantilism.
We’ve been building and creating before these structures existed, overcoming what now seems to be an impossible barrier of oppression (per @otlhogilegordon)
We’ve been building and creating before these structures existed, overcoming what now seems to be an impossible barrier of oppression (per @otlhogilegordon)
To add my 2¢, power itself isn’t good or evil. It’s a tool. The issue is who wields it and how they use it. That’s what we need to examine.
Power begets power, and can go good or go horribly wrong
Power begets power, and can go good or go horribly wrong
Can I also just say this @hmntycntrd playlist during the break is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
open.spotify.com/playlist/2O559…
open.spotify.com/playlist/2O559…
To summarize the first panel, @ayumibennett creates this BEAUTIFUL sketch note:
https://twitter.com/ayumibennett/status/1499828004951834636
COMING UP NEXT: Panel #2 Biased Identities
Featuring:
@cal_liang
@DIANALBARRAN
@jenrittner
We aren’t our users, and folks with lives experiences are being hired to bring their knowledge to the work designers do. What does this reveal + what problematic things get covered?
Featuring:
@cal_liang
@DIANALBARRAN
@jenrittner
We aren’t our users, and folks with lives experiences are being hired to bring their knowledge to the work designers do. What does this reveal + what problematic things get covered?
Per @jenrittner: Not all designers have a robust support system and not all users are seen or respected.
How are design teams tokenizing folks’ experience to come off as empathetic? It can still come off as extraction and exploitation (1/3)
How are design teams tokenizing folks’ experience to come off as empathetic? It can still come off as extraction and exploitation (1/3)
(2/3)
- hiring marginalized folx to be proxies for any background or community is corrupt and abusive
- bringing in folx w/ lived experience can and should include actively working on the product(s) rather than just “visiting”
- hiring marginalized folx to be proxies for any background or community is corrupt and abusive
- bringing in folx w/ lived experience can and should include actively working on the product(s) rather than just “visiting”
(3/3)
Reframing what modern design firms are (pedagogical spaces) means rethinking the design practice rather than just being an invited guest
Reframing what modern design firms are (pedagogical spaces) means rethinking the design practice rather than just being an invited guest
Per @DIANALBARRAN, design education follows a particular model: western, colonial, Eurocentric. Let’s call it following “the Global North.”
If this is the main structure of learning then we’re doomed to repeat and recreate the same models
If this is the main structure of learning then we’re doomed to repeat and recreate the same models
@albanvillamil: “if we diversify the teams, we don’t necessarily have to reflect on how our practices reflect the negative aspects of a white supremacy culture, or a settler colonialist culture, or a heteropatriarchy culture”
Many design firms promote themselves as solving the world’s intractable problems. OH REALLY, says @jenrittner?! What about the latest climate reports? Humanitarian crises? Making a cool product or widget or speaking w/ someone who has power ≠ saving the world
^ I just wanna add to this point Prof. Rittner made that too many designers call themselves empathetic but their work either hyper-focuses on profits or seeks to actively harm folks. So uh…STOP CALLING YOURSELVES EMPATHETIC IF YOU AINT HELPING MARGINALIZED FOLX THX
@cal_liang touched on performative aspects of reflexivity.
We must look into ourselves to understand our beliefs, assumptions, biases, and how these seep into our work.
We sometimes end up going on so little info and thus make assumptions and stereotypes.
We must look into ourselves to understand our beliefs, assumptions, biases, and how these seep into our work.
We sometimes end up going on so little info and thus make assumptions and stereotypes.
DEI must be INTENTIONAL and not performative, per @DIANALBARRAN
Yes yes YES.
Empathy isn’t a process or a catchphrase, it’s an action (like love, IMO). And it might be easier said than done but it’s our responsibility as designers to do that work
Yes yes YES.
Empathy isn’t a process or a catchphrase, it’s an action (like love, IMO). And it might be easier said than done but it’s our responsibility as designers to do that work
Learning of other identities & lived experiences is a long-term “game” but the most authentic approach to designing the best way possible.
This is why I DESPISE user personas. I would much rather hear people’s own thoughts and experiences than create a fake person to “empathize”
This is why I DESPISE user personas. I would much rather hear people’s own thoughts and experiences than create a fake person to “empathize”
Assuming uniformity across all queer people is not a queer way of thinking, as @cal_liang says
This is important b/c the human experience is not a monolith. There are infinitely different experiences across many different ppl and different times
This is important b/c the human experience is not a monolith. There are infinitely different experiences across many different ppl and different times
We are accountable to institutions or approaches from a fixed mindset but at the same time how we engage with our own communities
Connecting on a deep personal level, beyond professional and academic, is important
(1/2)
Connecting on a deep personal level, beyond professional and academic, is important
(1/2)
(2/2)
@DIANALBARRAN: “el corazón a la fronte”
Enter spaces from a place of love and humility, rather than a sense of entitlement
@DIANALBARRAN: “el corazón a la fronte”
Enter spaces from a place of love and humility, rather than a sense of entitlement
What can we learn from our personal identities to inform our design practice?
- @cal_liang: ‘being flexible to accommodate others’ needs when researching […] meet them where they are.’
- @DIANALBARRAN: ‘identity as a weaving; adding different things to your own tapestry’ (1/2)
- @cal_liang: ‘being flexible to accommodate others’ needs when researching […] meet them where they are.’
- @DIANALBARRAN: ‘identity as a weaving; adding different things to your own tapestry’ (1/2)
(2/2)
In other words, you can respect other cultures, identities, lived experiences and philosophies without appropriating them!
- @jenrittner: ‘parts of our identity are conditional, while others are temporal. We change as people over time, and thus our positionality’
In other words, you can respect other cultures, identities, lived experiences and philosophies without appropriating them!
- @jenrittner: ‘parts of our identity are conditional, while others are temporal. We change as people over time, and thus our positionality’
@ayumibennett coming through again with awesome sketch notes for panel #2!
https://twitter.com/ayumibennett/status/1499849781086203921
Third and final panel! Weaponizing Care
Featuring:
Dr. Chelsea Johnson (no Twitter that I can tag it seems 🥲), and @irisxie
Featuring:
Dr. Chelsea Johnson (no Twitter that I can tag it seems 🥲), and @irisxie
To start off, @albanvillamil asks about harmful assumptions that underpin our current ethical frameworks in design and research?
Dr. Johnson states that ppl think ethics are a checkbox in the beginning, that ethics are static and not relational.
We don’t think of the long lasting effects during and after our work
Issues are so rooted in western capitalist patriarchy making it hard to improve
We don’t think of the long lasting effects during and after our work
Issues are so rooted in western capitalist patriarchy making it hard to improve
Timelines are given higher priority over ethics and respect, participatory and communal work.
Per @irisxie we don’t talk enough about IRB’s purpose and context. So many design projects may not be considered “research” by an IRB
Per @irisxie we don’t talk enough about IRB’s purpose and context. So many design projects may not be considered “research” by an IRB
@irisxe: IRBs have their own ideologies about what’s considered research, and so to them design research ≠ ethics research. Without understanding the history of this “need for speed” in scientific research, we end up recreating the same inefficiencies
There is always a risk of harm when conducting research, and so it’s important to think about what “harm” means. Is there an assessed accountability of what harm is?
Harm may look, sound, or be different for different peoples
Harm may look, sound, or be different for different peoples
Dr. Johnson is working on creating an internal IRB within LinkedIn that can help drive design research!? 😳 holy shit that’s awesome
Per Dr. Johnson, there needs to be a way to add some healthy friction and nuance to avoid working off people’s gut feelings or whims. It’s especially difficult because in the tech space things move fast with impact on millions of people
At LinkedIn, the team created principles that include how to support researchers as humans, stakeholders (and the effect of the work), privacies re; data being collected and used, reflexivity (thinking about who we are as ppl while we have conversations and deductions)
How do we create environments of care for ppl doing the work?
@irisxie: work is centered on how everyone is doing + “how I’m doing”. It’s important to have space and safety to speak freely about struggles and traumas rather than punishing for not being “full packages”
@irisxie: work is centered on how everyone is doing + “how I’m doing”. It’s important to have space and safety to speak freely about struggles and traumas rather than punishing for not being “full packages”
Expanding on the prior:
Industry imagines they don’t run on real-world timing, it runs on its own made-up timing. So if ppl can’t fit 💯 into this capitalist, white supremacist system of work, you’re considered effectively useless, disposable, or nonexistent
Industry imagines they don’t run on real-world timing, it runs on its own made-up timing. So if ppl can’t fit 💯 into this capitalist, white supremacist system of work, you’re considered effectively useless, disposable, or nonexistent
Setting more realistic deadlines for research directly correlates to higher quality research. It’s important to have a cadence re; deep research such that it maintains the safety of the folks doing that research work
OOP— HOT TAKE ALERT:
@irisxie: tech optimism and Utopianism is why there’s such difficulty in addressing issues, especially with marginalized populations
So much research and practice has been done with little to no record of harm done to folx in professional or academic texts
@irisxie: tech optimism and Utopianism is why there’s such difficulty in addressing issues, especially with marginalized populations
So much research and practice has been done with little to no record of harm done to folx in professional or academic texts
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
