Caring about more than paying the bills. A presentation for my talk on ethics, morale, responsibility and power at the UXcamp Europe 2012 in Berlin.

1. Critical Interface Design
Caring about more, than paying the bills
Lutz Schmitt
UXcamp Europe – Berlin, May 26th 2012
photo (cc by-nc) wlodi on flickr.com

2. Session at UXcamp Europe 2011
Would you design the electric chair?
photo by lucinda devlin

3. It’s better to be involved, than to look away.
What we design has always an impact.
Most times it’s not just black or white.
Ethical questions lurk everywhere.
It’s OK to become paid.
We are responsible, but for what exactly?

4. I've brought with me some
insights, thoughts,
opinions, insults and of
course: Venn-Diagrams!

5. Caring about more, than paying the bills
photo (cc by-nc) wlodi on flickr.com

6. point of view
Everything has an interface
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

7. point of view
The interface is the product
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

8. thesis one
User Experience is just
educated marketing
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

9. Business Value User
Designer

10. Let's face it
We work to sell more stuff
We keep the system going

11. Business User
comfort
zone
Designer

12. thesis two
Most times we are paid for
staying in the comfort zone
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

13. Another aspect for my argumentation
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

14. thesis three
Every time we design an interface
we’re defining universal rules
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

15. what others came up with
First formulation of the categorical imperative:
“Act only according to that maxim
whereby you can at the same time will
that it should become a universal law.”
Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

16. Let’s head to the big picture
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

17. Business User
Value
Designer

18. Business User
Values
Designer

19. Market Economy

20. Society
Laws
Moral Codes
Ethics

21. Sometimes it's easier to act ethically, sometimes not

22. Sometimes it's just the small things
Gender Male Female
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

23. Sometimes it's just the small things
Gender Male Female Both Other
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

24. last slide
We are incredible powerful.
Maybe we should care about more,
than paying our bills.
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

25. last slide (in other words)
We already have an impact with our designs on society.
Why not use this for something else,
than reflecting our bosses / clients needs?
DESIGN FOR CONVERSION in a nutshell

26. Is UX actually just marketing?
Do we have this power, as proposed?
Do we have this responsibility beyond our job?
When did you leave the comfort zone the last time?
Are you happy?
I try to act ethically.

27. Thank you!
lutz@luxux.org | Twitter @luxux
Lutz Schmitt | Senior Consultant at nexum AG