Responsible Design: Recognising the Impact of How We Design

Abstract

Cite as: Eppinger, Steven D, & Maier, Anja M. (2019, August). Responsible Design: Recognising the Impact of How We Design. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3361183 Presentation slides below. *** Keynote address 6. August 2019 Responsible Design: Recognising the Impact of How We Design 22nd International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED19), TU Delft, Design Society Keynote Speakers: Prof. Steven Eppinger, MIT and Prof. Anja Maier, DTU Title of Presentation und Abstract: Responsible Design: Recognising the Impact of How We Design We live in a period during which human activity is the dominant influence on climate and the environment. Schoolchildren across the world take to the streets calling on all of us –individuals, businesses, and governments – to act responsibly for the future of humanity. University students demand education on doing well by doing good. Member states of the United Nations have committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Realising sustainable futures inclusive of a good information society certainly sounds attractive to students, business, and governments alike, and we certainly notice heightened awareness and a sense of urgency to tackle large-scale and interconnected challenges such as clean energy, global health, and well-being. Yet, the focus on complex, global challenges has perhaps made it more difficult for individual designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs to feel that their own actions can have a direct impact. Having said this, we also notice that many individuals, businesses, and governments are beginning to ask how might we foresee the impact of the physical and digital products, services, experiences and systems solutions we create. The term "responsible design" is now gaining traction. Still, we can all think of examples of 'successful design' that is harmful to people, damaging to the environment, or bad for our society. We need to recognise our responsibility to change this trajectory, learn from examples of responsible design, and accept the ...