Can Data and Ethics Live Together?
Summary
Putting together a product as designers is a challenge on its own. But what happens when you take ethics, privacy, and data into account? What is the extent of the slippery slope about asking for and storing data? It’s understandable the key stakeholders need to keep an eye on the KPIs and factor data in when evaluating designs. However, should any ethical dilemmas be considered when gathering such data? Join Matteo Gratton, Design Advocate from Sketch, as he draws more attention to these important topics with real cases.
Key Insights
-
•
Data itself is not the problem; ethical concerns arise from how data is used and shared.
-
•
Designers and managers have influence over what data is collected, stored, and shared within their products.
-
•
Requiring unnecessary personal data during job applications or app sign-ups imposes user burden and risks privacy.
-
•
Many popular messaging apps request irrelevant sensitive information like financial or health data.
-
•
Dark patterns exploit user trust, such as asking for credit card info for free trials that auto-renew without clear exit options.
-
•
Users are often tracked covertly through tools like Hotjar without meaningful consent, undermining trust.
-
•
Complex GDPR cookie consent mechanisms often confuse users rather than empower them to control data sharing.
-
•
Data storage has environmental impacts due to energy consumption and redundancy, which is rarely considered in design.
-
•
Sharing data, even with good intentions (like highlighting Black-owned businesses), can lead to unintended negative consequences.
-
•
Sketch’s live collaboration tool limits data collection to necessary info, enhances transparency, and avoids empowering managers with more visibility than users.
Notable Quotes
"Data per se are not the problem; it is the way we are using the data that can be problematic."
"As designers, we decide what data is required and what data is shared, and that brings responsibility."
"I spent two hours trying to apply for a job because of excessive data requests; that is a design failure."
"Why are messaging apps asking for my health and fitness information to just send a message?"
"I used a free trial with my credit card, never canceled it, and paid for three years without using the service."
"Tracking users without their understanding breaks the trust we need to build ethical products."
"GDPR is helpful but often users are lost in cookie dialogs that don’t clearly let them opt out."
"Storing enormous amounts of data requires energy and has a climate impact we rarely talk about."
"Google tried to help Black-owned businesses, but it also led to racist backlash online and offline."
"In our product, no manager can see more data than any designer; transparency is our red line."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Federal funding does not provide food for participants, so we had to plan accordingly to make participation irresistible."
Alexia Cohen Adriane AckermanIncreasing Health Equity and Improving the Service Experience for Under-Served Latine Communities in Arizona
December 4, 2024
"If you begin to add interruption, you’ll see a big difference in what comes out of that study."
Marc Majers Tony TurnerInterrupted UX - Add A Dose of Reality To Usability Testing
March 11, 2022
"Our appliances are attacking us somehow and bringing down major parts of our infrastructure."
Jorge ArangoDesign as an Antidote to VUCA
May 9, 2019
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher is just to be able to say the children are now working as if I did not exist."
Brenna FallonLearning Over Outcomes
October 24, 2019
"Psychological warmth and physical warmth activate the same part of the brain, the insula."
Daniel GloydWarming the User Experience: Lessons from America's first and most radical human-centered designers
May 9, 2024
"Confidence is critical in online shopping because nobody wants to spend money they’re unsure about losing due to unclear controls."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
October 3, 2023
"We are not replacing teachers; we are enhancing their ability to teach effectively."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Every day is a chance to check: is this how I want to be? This is a long-haul, marathon effort."
Denise Jacobs Nancy Douyon Renee Reid Lisa WelchmanInteractive Keynote: Social Change by Design
January 8, 2024
"Sometimes the screening can be done incorrectly by panels, which leads to wasted time and potential data issues."
Roberta Dombrowski Lianna Aduana5 Reasons to Bring your Recruiting in House
September 30, 2021
