In February 2024, the EU Commission initiated proceedings against TikTok, accusing the platform of using an «addictive design,» compounded by harmful content that poses risks to young people1. The visual design of the app, infinite scrolling, sticky content, and personalized recommendations, presents an increased risk to users. Simultaneously, the Council of the European Commission is discussing an Ecodesign Regulation2 that would prohibit the destruction of new goods. Further, the German federal government is soliciting proposals for funding social innovations that aim to «design the transformation in a way that benefits the common good, ensuring the participation and co-creation of affected actors, encouraging lifestyle changes, and balancing out conflicting goals.»3 Design, in this sense, appears twofold: on one hand, as a devious tool for subtle manipulation; on the other, as a beacon of hope, promising to bridge the gap between growth-oriented prosperity and environmentally sustainable living in the spirit of the Green New Deal4. Yet, both examples show that design as a discipline is credited with the power to effect social change, irrespective of the particular canon of values. What could possibly go wrong? – This provocative yet optimistic question serves as the core of this year’s DGTF annual conference, highlighting the role of designers and design practices in addressing current social, political, and ecological challenges. The conference encourages a self-critical examination of design: Should a systematic impact assessment become part of design research’s toolkit, akin to the environmental and sustainability sciences? A parallel discussion asks us to scrutinize design’s influence and the implications of its power. These considerations lead to the central questions of the DGTF Conference 2024: What is the actual power of design? How does design achieve impact? How do we handle the consequences of design? And is it possible to measure the impact of design at all?:Impact measurement and impact ...


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    Title :

    Introduction: What could possibly go wrong? – Impact and Consequences in Design



    Publication date :

    2024-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    DDC:    300 / 320 / 629



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