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‘Human-Centred Design’ is very en vogue these days. Especially in the digital space, we have broadly embraced this approach which involves the (user’s) human perspective in all steps of the design process.
There is a growing chorus of people that criticises the human-centred design approach for being somewhat misguided. As Erica Hall argued in Offscreen Issue 18, the notion of ‘fulfilling human needs’ tells us little about whether we should fulfil those needs in the first place. Could designing more enjoyable slot machines in Casinos still be considered human-centred design? How about a more alluring shopping experience?
In our upcoming issue 22 (subscribe here) we’re taking this discussion one step further. One interviewee makes a case for what she calls ‘more-than-human-centred design’. From one of her previous talks:
“In a broader context, what if we deny that humans are exceptional? What if we stop speaking and listening only to ourselves? I would like to move beyond the human need and think of a bigger picture. Consider the idea of a more-than-human-centred approach where human beings are not at the centre of the universe and are not at the centre of everything – where we consider ourselves as deeply entangled in [and reliant on] relationships with other species, both human and nonhuman.”
What an exciting new way of looking at design! How can we use design in a way that is respectful not just to humans, but to the communities we are a part of, the relationships we share with others, and the environment we live in?
– Kai
Dense Discovery is currently read by over 36,000 subscribers. Support us by (1) Sponsoring an issue, (2) Booking a classified ad, or (3) Sharing this issue with friends and colleagues.
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The Visual Workspace SPONSOR
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The fast & beautiful visual collaboration tool
Communicate visually at the speed of thought – collaborative flowcharts, wireframes, sticky notes and mind maps.
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Apps & Sites
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Privacy-friendly web analytics
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A basic web analytics tool that puts your privacy first: no cookies or personal data is collected, so no GDPR banner is necessary. Their servers are based in Iceland and all data is fully encrypted.
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Similar to Zapier, tray.io allows you to connect hundreds of web apps and file formats to automate multi-step processes. (I use Zaps to automate DD’s sponsor/ad booking system.)
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Shareable screencast videos
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“With Loom, you can capture your screen, record your front-facing camera, and narrate your video all at once – no switching apps or upload required.” You get a shareable URL to pass on to your team or client.
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This tiny MacOS app always shows your upcoming event/appointment in the menu bar. Click to see all upcoming events for the day.
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Indie Mag of the Week
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She Shoots Film is an independent publication that encourages, supports and draws attention to emerging and seasoned film photographers that make with a woman’s eye.
– Latest Issue: 3
– Frequency: 2 issues/year
– Formats: print only
– Origin: Australia
We’re giving away five copies to randomly selected DD readers. Keep an eye on your inbox to find out if you’re among them!
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Watches made from illegal firearms
An updated range of the celebrated TRIWA watches is currently on Kickstarter: “Meet the watch made from the world’s most valuable metal: Humanium Metal – forged from destructed illegal firearms to stand for change, not status.” (If you’re a bit confused by the many different models on offer you’re not alone.🤔)
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Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
“A powerful, important and eye-opening analysis of the gender politics of knowledge and ignorance. With examples from technology to natural disasters, this is an original and timely reminder of why we need women in the leadership of the institutions that shape every aspect of our lives.”
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Overheard on Twitter
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I keep having the conversation that it’s often hard for people to imagine creating things on the web that *aren’t* trying to be a startup. Folks have forgotten that we can create just to create, same as most folks write in a journal aren’t trying to be bestselling authors.
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Food For Thought
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Wow. So much to quote from this impassioned call to action by tech research pioneer danah boyd: “I am here today in-no-small-part because I benefited from the generosity of men who tolerated and, in effect, enabled unethical, immoral, and criminal men. (...) In a healthy society, we strategically design to increase social cohesion because binaries are machine logic not human logic. (...) The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good.”
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I think we all heard people in tech make this argument before, trying to justify their ethically questionable inventions: ‘You can’t stop progress. Technology will take over either way. It’s the natural evolution of things.’ This article calls out their bullshit. There is no natural evolution of technology. It’s all on us.
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“Social media seems to define ‘living fully’ as being adventurous, spontaneous and extroverted. For people who are fulfilled by a quieter life, social media seems to tell them that they’re living life the wrong way. (...) The most significant difference between the spread of inspirational quotes and the spread of fake news is that quotes generally make users feel good, while fake news provokes anger or fear. ‘In either case, emotionality overrides rationality,’ he says.”
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Aesthetically Pleasing
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Room 205 is a bold, expressive font in the neoclassical tradition.
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I can’t get enough of this Instagram account: Abstract Aerial Art photographs “bizarre aerial images from around the world”.
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Classifieds
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Planning out, setting + sticking to your goals can be tricky! We’ve made a new 4-part guide & free worksheet to help you achieve them step-by-step. Read + download at superhi.com
Indulge your senses every Saturday with The Slowdown newsletter. Organised by See, Touch, Taste, Hear, and Smell, it offers a conscious counterpoint to clickbait content.
Say hello to Document Generator. Automatically generate a pack of personalised proposals, case studies, invoices, and brochures in minutes. Free to edit, download, and share.
Balance the highs and low of freelance work. More equality, less stress. New ideas. Eureka
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Classifieds are paid ads that support DD and are seen by 36,000 subscribers each week.
Book yours →
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The Week in a GIF
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Email us the URL to your favourite GIF and we might feature it here in a future issue.
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