.design ethics

seminar // design ethics // ba craft design // diploma university // hanover // germany // 2022


ethical questions are inherent in every design decision and essential to answer in every design process. In this course students are introduced to the concepts of ethics and the utilization of moral values in our culture, especially in design processes and decisions.

further, the history of moral decisions in design is outlined and opposed to our post-industrial demands. we reflect on the role of designers in our post-industrial age, thus their responsibility when contributing to social questions in design.

hence, four different topics – gender, sustainability, technology and politics are explored to identify moral choices in design practice and scrutinize the own work for a more social oriented scope of duties and awareness for the effects of design decisions. These aspects are complemented through the theoretical framework of ethical models and tools to work with and apply ethical principles in design.