Hendry & Friedman: Value Sensitive Design

Tools and technologies are fundamental to the human condition. They do no less than create and structure the conditions in which we live, express ourselves, enact society, preserve or regenerate the natural world, and experience what it means to be human. They are also the result of people’s moral and technical imaginations. Yet, with our limited view, it is not at all obvious how to design tools and technology so that they are more likely to support the actions, relationships, institutions, and experiences that human beings care deeply about – a life and society of human and planetary flourishing. Value Sensitive Design (VSD) was developed as an approach to address this challenge from within engineering and design processes.

In this talk, we will provide an introduction to Value Sensitive Design, foregrounding human values in the technical design process. Our remarks will situate VSD within a broader discourse on sociotechnical systems and present VSD’s core theoretical constructs. Then we will provide examples of applying VSD in real-world contexts. Next we will explore two design methods – Envisioning Cards and value scenarios – through a design activity and give an overview of many more methods. In doing so, we’ll connect theory to practice. Thinking longer-term and systemically, we will bring forward a range of potential challenges and design opportunities in light of these trends, highlighting the challenges of conceptualizing materiality and engaging beyond human stakeholders. Our comments will engage individual lives, society writ large, what it means to be human, the planet and beyond.

• Date: October 22nd
• Time: 12:15-1:45 pm
• Location: Reed Gallery, DAAP, University of Cincinnati

Parking

Convenient parking is available near the venue at the University of Cincinnati's Uptown West Campus:

• Woodside Avenue Garage
• Campus Green Garage
• Paid street parking in the surrounding area

Please note that due to campus construction, the Clifton Court Garage is currently closed.

For a full map of these and other nearby parking options, visit UC's Uptown West Campus parking map.