Value Sensitive Design (VSD) is an approach to designing technology that takes into account the values and ethical considerations of its users and society as a whole. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on philosophy, social sciences, and engineering to create technology that is both useful and respectful of human values. VSD aims to create technologies that promote human well-being, respect human dignity, and foster social justice. One of the key aspects of VSD is the involvement of stakeholders in the design process. This includes not only end-users, but also other groups that may be affected by the technology, such as communities, policymakers, and advocacy groups. By involving these stakeholders, designers can better understand the values and concerns of the people who will be using the technology, and can design solutions that are more responsive to their needs. Another important aspect of VSD is the use of ethical frameworks to guide the design process. These frameworks help designers to identify and prioritize values that should be incorporated into the technology, such as privacy, autonomy, and trust. They also help designers to anticipate and address potential ethical issues that may arise from the use of the technology. VSD also emphasizes the importance of evaluating the impact of technology on society and the environment. This includes assessing the potential risks and benefits of the technology, as well as its long-term social and environmental impacts. By considering these factors, designers can create technology that is not only useful, but also sustainable and socially responsible. Overall, Value Sensitive Design is a holistic approach to designing technology that takes into account the values and ethical considerations of its users and society. It emphasizes the involvement of stakeholders, the use of ethical frameworks, and the evaluation of social and environmental impacts. By incorporating these principles into the design process, VSD aims to create technology that is both useful and respectful of human values.
technology, stakeholders, ethical frameworks, social responsibility, human values
CITATION : "Christopher Davis. 'Value Sensitive Design.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=347028 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Value Sensitive Design is a process that seeks to ensure that the values of a given population are incorporated into the design of technology. This process is designed to be an improvement over traditional user-centered design practices, which typically remain focused on usability and efficiency. The idea of Value Sensitive Design was first introduced by Finnbarry-Smith and Batya Friedman in the 1990s, and has since been developed by many designers and researchers. Important works in this field include Designing for Human Values (1999), The Values Lens: Applying Value Sensitive Design (2006) and Values in Design: Theory and Practice (2016).
Value Sensitive Design, Human-Centered Design, Social Computing, Ethical Design, Moral Design.
Value Sensitive Design is an approach to the creation of products, services, and systems that seeks to identify and incorporate values in design processes, taking account of user perspectives in the development of a solution. It uses methods and tools to incorporate social values such as privacy, autonomy, trust and fairness into the design of technology. The goal of Value Sensitive Design is to create holistic solutions that meet the needs of both users and society, emphasizing the consideration of ethical, political and social issues in user-centered design.
Values-driven design, ethical design, social impact design.
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