Summary
Putting together a product as designers is a challenge on its own. But what happens when you take ethics, privacy, and data into account? What is the extent of the slippery slope about asking for and storing data? It’s understandable the key stakeholders need to keep an eye on the KPIs and factor data in when evaluating designs. However, should any ethical dilemmas be considered when gathering such data? Join Matteo Gratton, Design Advocate from Sketch, as he draws more attention to these important topics with real cases.
Key Insights
-
•
Data generation is an integral part of the digital world, creating both opportunities and complexities.
-
•
Ethics in data usage requires ongoing reflection and consideration, particularly in the role of designers and managers.
-
•
Not all data should be collected; designers can influence which data is necessary and ethical to gather.
-
•
Over-collection of data, especially sensitive personal information, can lead to privacy violations and user distrust.
-
•
Transparency in data practices fosters trust between users and companies, making it essential for ethical design.
-
•
Ethical decision-making in data management is not static and must evolve over time as societal standards shift.
-
•
User consent should be clear, informed, and not hidden behind complex interfaces or consent forms.
-
•
Data security and the duration of storage are also critical ethical considerations for companies.
-
•
Designers should advocate for minimal data collection practices while maximizing transparency across their platforms.
-
•
An ethical approach to data usage can differentiate conscientious products in a market increasingly scrutinizing user privacy.
Notable Quotes
"We are living in a world made of data and everything that is digital is generating it."
"Data per se are not the problem; it's the way we are using the data that can be problematic."
"As designers, we can decide what data is required for our applications to work."
"We should help our users follow a process and understand what could be useful for us and why."
"We can decide how to improve the trust of our users based on the way we are transparent with them."
"The greater part of progress is the desire to progress again."
"We are not allowing anyone else to be in a position of power based on the data we collect and share."
"The more data we have, the more difficult it is to find what we actually need."
"It’s important to be transparent so everyone knows what they can see about what they did."
"Ethical decisions will change over time; they're not static."
More Videos
"Design is a poorly designed word."
John MaedaMaking Sense of Enterprise UX
June 9, 2016
"There are a lot of variability in how people approach their intent or purpose."
Indi YoungThinking styles: Mend hidden cracks in your market
January 8, 2025
"Developing deep customer empathy is fundamental to understanding who is using a product and why."
Chris ChapoData Science and Design: A Tale of Two Tribes
May 13, 2015
"Effective teams integrate across silos to enhance productivity."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017
"Our work here is not done. This is a journey."
Rusha SopariwalaRemote, Together: Craft and Collaboration Across Disciplines, Borders, Time Zones, and a Design Org of 170+
June 9, 2022
"The design industry is primed for a movement towards ethical practices and accountability."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"Every once in a while, it's okay to turn your video off."
Ariba JahanTeam Resiliency Through a Pandemic
January 8, 2024
"Executive sponsorship is essential for scaling design thinking across the organization."
Julie Gitlin Esther RaiceDesign as an Agent of Digital Transformation at JPMC
June 9, 2021
"We are living in a world made of data and everything that is digital is generating it."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021
