Ethics in Design: A Practical Guide

1-Hour Master Class with Guthrie Weinschenk, Behavioral Economist and COO at The Team W, Inc.

In our daily lives, we are heavily influenced by the devices and digital products we use. From social media likes to flash sales to news alerts, throughout the day, the information and interfaces we encounter shape how we think, act and feel.

Influential products exist to create profits for the companies that own and develop them. Engaged users aren’t just a sign of great UX—from a business standpoint, they signal more profits, more market share.

A successful product with engaged users isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Products and their users can have a mutually rewarding relationship, where the product derives revenue from its users, who in turn derive important benefits from the product. A clear win-win formula, and one that has been central to commerce throughout the ages.

The problem arises when companies—and the designers who work for them—actively set out to make their products addictive and influential to a harmful degree. Because modern lives are regulated, surveilled and shaped by the devices in users’ hands and homes, designers have a moral responsibility to design for good—to design ethically.

Yet, it can be incredibly challenging to define what ethical design decisions look like in practice. In many design projects, the ethical dimension appears to be a murky grey area that brings more doubts than decisions to the design process. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this Master Class, Guthrie Weinschenk will show you how to really know if the products and services you create are ethical. You’ll learn:

How to identify an ethical nudge versus an unethical manipulation
What nudges, mandates, coercions and manipulations are, and how they differ from each other
A formula to calculate how ethical your products and services are
Behavioral science methods and techniques that inform unethical (and quasi-ethical) tactics
The 4 ways that prevent organizations from using these tactics
Real-world examples of ethical and unethical design decisions

Ethical design has always been a moral imperative—but it is quickly becoming much more than that. With privacy regulations such as GDPR, laws governing the right to repair and changing industry standards for inclusion and accessibility, designers need to be trained in ethical design practices to secure their own futures and to build products for the betterment of all.

Your Speaker and Industry Expert

Guthrie Weinschenk is a Behavioral Economist and the COO of The Team W, Inc.

He has a degree in Economics, a law degree, and is a licensed attorney. He consults, teaches, and specializes in business strategy, behavioral economics, and ethics. He is the host of the podcast Human Tech and author of I Love You, Now Read This Book. (It's About Human Decision Making and Behavioral Economics).

You can follow Guthrie's work on The Team W website or on Instagram @guthrieweinschenk

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Questions? We've Got Answers

Design skills are valuable for both you personally and for your company.

For you personally, design skills are important because:

Design roles are growing faster than average. The World Economic Forum ranks human-centered design among the fastest-growing skill areas through 2030.
Employers increasingly expect design skills across roles, not just from designers. Knowing design thinking, user research, or UX principles makes you more competitive in any field.
Designers who combine human-centered skills with AI expertise are in especially high demand.

For your company, design skills are important because:

Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.

Design and tech skills can open up career opportunities.

For example, if you're in a field such as:

Marketing, communication, HR, software development, customer service, business management, healthcare, teaching, and many more.

Why can design skills make you valuable in these jobs and industries?

That's because:

Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.

No.

Our courses, master classes, and career programs cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics.

Whether you're completely new to design or an experienced professional, you'll find courses, master classes and career programs at your level.

Yes.

After you finish, you'll receive an industry-recognized IxDF Certificate to prove you've completed an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.

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Need more detailed instructions?

We can help you in several ways.

Join meetups in your city: Join the regular meetups in your city in a nearby cafe or office building to have fun and learn with people just like you. You get full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find new opportunities, or simply enjoy yourself in the company of people who are passionate about design. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across app. 500 cities worldwide.

You can also get instant help and career advice in the IxDF online members-only forums. Here, you can build your global network through our supportive community.

Wonderful! When you sign up for a Master Class, you'll receive an email from us with a link to join the live Master Class.

If you can't find the email, please reach out to [email protected], and we're super happy to help you!

Great news! You'll also get an on-demand version of your Master Class a few hours after the live event ends.

A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will also show up on your private profile page if you're a member.

That way, you can view the Master Class on-demand at any time. As many times as you wish.

Absolutely!

When you sign up for a live Master Class, you'll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.

A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you're an IxDF member. If you're not a member, you'll receive your recording by email.

You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.

Great news! We've got you covered.

When you sign up for the live Master Class, you'll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.

A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you're an IxDF member. If you're not a member, you'll receive your recording by email.

You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.

We'd love to hear from you and help you!

Reach out to us at [email protected] or use the online contact form.

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