Some digital products are designed with particular values in mind, such as recyclability, repairability, circularity, etc., but also values such as privacy, cultural appropriateness, adaptability, and universal design. Some producers ignore the fact that their digital products do not support certain values, such as unrepairable smartphones, racist AI, stalker apps, or products with highly toxic content.
The questions guiding this thesis proposal are:
1) How are social, cultural, or environmental values of digital products communicated to the users?
2) How do brand owners hide the fact that their digital products do not support social, cultural, or environmental values?
In this master's thesis project, you will analyse the values inscribed in common digital technologies, such as smartphones, laptops, screens, etc. You can use your analysis to design a different way to make values visible and/or tangible in design.
This master thesis will be part of A Materials Library for the Digital World. This project will create a physical and mobile library of materials found in common digital technologies, such as computers and mobile phones. The Library will make the lifecycle of these materials visible and tangible, enabling dialogues and discussions on the environmental and social consequences of the design, production, and use of these digital technologies, as well as the design of new digital technologies.
This master's thesis project will contribute to understanding how sustainability-related values can be communicated through the design of digital products.
Supervision
We regard the social aspect of doing a master's thesis as important as the academic aspect. As supervisors, we will offer you an engaged and inspiring environment in the Sustainability Lab as well as access to experts when needed.
Recommended courses:
- IN5010 (Design, Technology & Society)
- IN5470 (Design for Sustainability - different course code in 2024!)
- You may also want to choose one of the following courses: IN5120 (Tangible Interaction), IN5530 (Research through Design) or IN5510 (Participatory Experimental Design).
Inspiring literature and examples:
Design for Sustainability (free book, see also under courses)
Ethics and Values in Design: A structured review and theoretical critique (article)
Codes@UN.org (Youtube video)
