Designers, (Re)define Success First

The concept of daily ethical design, aiming to create usable, equitable, and sustainable designs, faces significant hurdles, particularly due to the capitalist system's emphasis on profit maximization. Current efforts often focus on superficial changes, like sharing ethical toolkits, instead of addressing the root cause: the company's objectives. To truly integrate ethics, designers need to influence the system by shifting the focus from viability to ethical considerations like well-being, equity, and sustainability. This requires redefining success metrics to reflect these ethical objectives, moving away from traditional metrics like customer satisfaction and focusing on aspects like digital well-being and reduced environmental impact. Measuring the impact of design choices through these new metrics is crucial, as it aligns with the language of business and allows for concrete evaluation of ethical progress. By setting clear ethical objectives and measurable metrics, ethical design transitions from a theoretical concept to a practical, achievable goal embedded in daily practice. This shift demands a change in mindset, moving away from the traditional three dimensions of design success (desirability, feasibility, and viability) and embracing a fourth: ethical impact. This holistic approach ensures that design not only meets user needs but also contributes positively to society and the planet, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and ethical future.