A practice of becoming

In our current political climate, where our relationship to truth and power is precarious, to say the least, I’d like to make a proposal. To consider some of these tactics, like illegibility, agitation, radical publishing, and messy sense making, as a new kind of curriculum.

One of the best ways to seed [the strategic and purposeful production of ignorance] is to make sure that doubtful and conspiratorial content is easier to reach than scientific material. And then to make sure that what scientific information is available, is undermined. One tactic is to exploit “data voids.” These are areas within a search ecosystem where there’s no relevant data; those who want to manipulate media purposefully exploit these.

When we start to think about design impact on trans folks, the ideas we bring into question can benefit everyone. Our designs should go beyond including—they should affirm and validate. Ideally, they will also reflect organizational cultures that support diversity and inclusion.

We recognized that this was not a category of lived experience we were equipped to design for, so we spoke to people who could co-create with us. How else would our product team create the right experience, without being informed by those who are affected by our choices?

Prospective employees of Saral Designs, even those whose roles pertain to no more than the literal nuts and bolts of the business, answer interview questions about periods and the reproductive system, on top of more traditional inquiries about work experience or education…it asks employees for their take on reproductive rights, the MeToo movement, and how they feel about women who are higher up than men in the workplace hierarchy.

Developing a more ethical digital design practice doesn’t require new tools, merely sustained attention and political will. Those of us involved in creating the future, owe it to the future.