Design for Safety: A Strategic Framework for Inclusive Technology
This article excerpt outlines a strategic approach to designing safer and more inclusive technology, emphasizing that good intentions alone are insufficient to prevent harm. Citing antiracist economist Kim Crayton, the text argues that without concrete strategy, efforts to protect marginalized groups remain chaotic. The core of the piece introduces the 'Process for Inclusive Safety,' a methodology developed in 2018 to help designers identify potential abuses, prevent them, and empower vulnerable users. This flexible framework consists of five key actions: conducting broad and specific research on how technology can be weaponized, creating user archetypes, brainstorming potential problems, designing protective solutions, and testing for safety. The author clarifies that while diversity is essential, it is not a standalone solution for unethical tech. The guidelines are intended for general products with wide user bases, noting that specialized products for trauma survivors require different handling. By integrating these safety principles into existing design practices, technologists can better address issues like data security, racist algorithms, and interpersonal harm, ensuring that technology serves rather than endangers its users.
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Design for Safety: A Strategic Framework for Inclusive Technology
This article excerpt outlines a strategic approach to designing safer and more inclusive technology, emphasizing that good intentions alone are insufficient to prevent harm. Citing antiracist economist Kim Crayton, the text argues that without concrete strategy, efforts to protect marginalized groups remain chaotic. The core of the piece introduces the 'Process for Inclusive Safety,' a methodology developed in 2018 to help designers identify potential abuses, prevent them, and empower vulnerable users. This flexible framework consists of five key actions: conducting broad and specific research on how technology can be weaponized, creating user archetypes, brainstorming potential problems, designing protective solutions, and testing for safety. The author clarifies that while diversity is essential, it is not a standalone solution for unethical tech. The guidelines are intended for general products with wide user bases, noting that specialized products for trauma survivors require different handling. By integrating these safety principles into existing design practices, technologists can better address issues like data security, racist algorithms, and interpersonal harm, ensuring that technology serves rather than endangers its users.
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