Accelerators, Privacy & Ethics
#71 - Jul.2023
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Computational design has changed the way of creating new solutions enabling new tools and techniques throughout the lifecycle.
The use of AI as an accelerator. The traditional dynamic of divergence and convergence of Design Thinking gains a new tool with the use of AI. Understanding a problem or opportunity can be complemented with the use of generative tools, taking advantage of large volumes of data to find trends and new perspectives. Practical examples vary from market research, customer sentiment analysis, brainstorming sessions, and prototyping through AI-powered simulations & visualization.
Privacy by design. The new generation of products operates on a new 'trust economy'. Customers who do not trust a product will quickly stop using it. Privacy should be a core component of the design process from the start. This means being equally concerned about usability (UX) but also data access rights, retention policies, security & storage, and making use of the information with the intended purpose. Customer trust will be directly related to how companies take care of their information.
Ethics. AI is already part of our lives and the trend is to become an integral element of any product and service of the future. When we talk about ethics, we open a wide and complex space balancing concepts such as justice, bias, and system responsibilities, especially when these are used for decision-making. Designing experiences in this space must take into account the transparency of how these systems arrive at results, and the continuous auditing of biases that could lead to excluding, offending, or impacting people's lives. As we design we must consider second and third-order impacts to anticipate unwanted effects.
There are many challenges but, in equal or greater numbers, are the opportunities and benefits of the digital products of the future. We are facing a fundamental change in the way we design, operate, and improve solutions. This is not only an opportunity for business but for further social challenges such as health, education, and economic growth.
It is an opportunity to reinvent yourself.
