Please write a comment, reflection, or question about the reading at the appropriate section.(1 to 2 sentences max).
Week 13b–Exclusive Design(Dev)
The thesis discusses the importance of designing inclusive websites from a business and legal point of view but emphasises the importance of designing inclusive websites simply because we can. The author further describes the weird, WEIRD web and explains Everybody's paradox which made me wonder what even are the philosophical and ethical implications of designing exclusive or inclusive websites and even further on the lines of does website design relate to social justice, and what is the role of designers in promoting social justice through their work?
Vasilis Van Gemert starts off by stating that most websites are designed for people who design websites. They then ask what would happen if we were to flip the“ability bias” and design for real people with real disabilities, which leads to the exclusive design principles they came up with, as opposed to the inclusive design principles they were taught. I think this is an important aspect to include and think about when designing websites(or anything in general), and would love to see some examples designed exclusively for people with disabilities. As designers, what are some ways we can make our websites accessible for all people?
Vasilis Van Gemert contends that website design has primarily catered to web designers in the past 25 years, resulting in a lack of knowledge in designing for marginalized groups, especially people with disabilities. The author suggests overcoming this"ability bias" by adopting exclusive design principles to create customized experiences for individuals with disabilities, ultimately promoting their independence, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive design expertise and its potential benefits for disabled individuals. I think one way to encourage designers to be aware of inclusivity of their design would be having proper education on the topic itself since I feel like they are often excluded from the required education in design school.
This reading was a very interesting look at how design and designing for accessibility needs to change. I liked how Vasilis van Gemert said that we should design inclusive websites because we can. This ties into the idea that having inclusive design as an afterthought or meeting minimum requirements is an exclusionary practice. So, Vasilis suggests that we design exclusively for people with disabilities? Something that also stuck to me was one of his ideas on how to do this, which was to“add nonsense.” Vasilis says that inclusive designing is serious work but should also be fun. If we take the fun and the emotion out of it, it does has that affect on the user as well. I like the anecdote on when people started making prescription glasses look good. Like all of us, we need different tools in our life, so why not make them beautiful?
In Exclusive Design, Vasilis Van Gemert highlights the importance of designing websites that cater to people with disabilities. The author argues that the design of most websites caters to designers rather than end-users with disabilities. To overcome this, the author suggests adopting exclusive design principles that prioritize designing for real people with real disabilities.
"Exclusive Design" by Vasilis Van Gemert explores the concept of inclusive design and argues that it is not enough to simply create designs that accommodate everyone, but rather we must strive to create designs that are exclusive to everyone. The article challenges the notion of"normal" and highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating diversity in all its forms. Van Gemert stresses the need for designers to understand the experiences of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups and to actively involve them in the design process. The article ultimately calls for a shift in perspective towards inclusive design as a way of promoting social justice and equality.
Exclusive design, as advocated by Vasilis van Gemert, involves creating bespoke designs that cater to the unique needs and preferences of individual clients. This approach goes beyond mass-produced, generic design solutions and instead utilizes cutting-edge technology and materials to create truly personalized designs. Van Gemert's emphasis on collaboration with clients and his innovative use of sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing techniques has earned him international recognition and numerous awards. His designs have been commissioned by high-profile clients such as Nike and the Dutch government, and his work has been exhibited worldwide. Exclusive design represents a departure from standardized design solutions and offers a more personalized and sustainable approach to design.
The article provides a fresh perspective on inclusivity in design and challenges designers to rethink their approach towards the topic. It emphasises the importance of having an inclusive mindset in the process of designing and considering different perspectives, but also the potential benefits of designing for exclusivity rather than inclusivity.
In fact, I think exclusive design is like a kind of personalized customization. Different styles are designed according to the user's preference. A more inclusive website will be more popular and feel warm and equal to the users.
Week 13a–The Hidden Life of an Amazon User(Serena)
This article discusses Joana Moll's project exploring the environmental impacts of simply interacting with the all-powerful Amazon. It dissects the process from clicking into the cite, browsing, and purchasing an item, exposing what is going on in the'invisible' layer of code that is normally hidden from users in its attempt to show how much unnecessary energy a mindless click will cost.
Joana Moll delves into the unknowns of Amazon's user data and expresses serious worries about the digital age's trade-off between convenience and privacy. While most people are complacent about their internet activities being tracked, the environmental footprint that users leave behind is rarely emphasized. What are some steps I can take as a user to protect my privacy and reduce my ecological footprint?
Moll’s project is impactful in a very confrontational way. Backed by the detailed abstract, the project itself is powerful as it shows you exactly how real world the footprint of using something like amazon can be. It was also insightful to see all the compiled code taking up the majority of the page.
The article was an investigative piece that sheds light on the complex and often hidden processes that occur when a customer makes a purchase on Amazon's website. I loved the project and the way it visualised data considering how it highlighted the extensive amount of code and energy required to load each interface and track user behavior, ultimately placing a portion of the energy cost on the customer.
The article discusses Joana Moll's project exploring the environmental impact of using Amazon and the hidden layer of code involved in browsing and purchasing. It highlights the trade-off between convenience and privacy in the digital age and emphasizes the need for users to reduce their ecological footprint. The project sheds light on the energy cost that customers bear while using Amazon's website.
In this article, Moll discusses how corporations(Amazon in particular), have been harvesting the data of their users as well as passing along the environmental costs to them as well. By visualising the immense amount of code it takes to complete seemingly straightforward processes users undergo every few seconds(or even milliseconds) on the Amazon website, it forces readers to contemplate their patronage and usage of amazon and related services. However, it is also extremely difficult to do so, as Amazon has also successfully signed and provide services in many institutions we find ourselves a part of. As such, is there ever an option for us to truly opt out of such practices or will every alternative be the same thing in different packaging?
In Joana Moll’s article, they display how a simple process like buying a book on Amazon would cause the user to load a vast amount of code. This not only costs users energy to have the computer load it, but also costs their privacy from the loaded code tracking and personalizing content. When I saw Moll’s visualization in their project, it really put into perspective just how much code is hidden behind websites we use everyday. This makes me wonder, do all of our most used websites behave in the same manner?
This book explains how Amazon's computer programs and data help them know what we like and suggest things we might want to buy. The book also talks about how Amazon keeps our personal information and how it could affect our privacy. If you're interested in online shopping and how companies use data to make decisions, you should check out this book. It's a really interesting read that will give you a better understanding of how Amazon works.
This was a very interesting look into the amount of code and energy that Amazon puts on its users in order to gain the most out of them. Moll uses the term“exploitation” which is interesting. This term is used in the text as a way to describe the way Amazon collects incredible amounts of personal data for free from the user, and the environmental impacts of this. I think that most people don’t realize that data is a real, material weight on the environment though it can seem like it’s doing nothing. In the further readings they mention Jussi Parikka. I’ve read an essay from him called The Materiality of Media and Waste which talked about this.
Joana Moll's'The Hidden Lives of Amazon Users' explores the vast amount of data Amazon collects from its users, including their search and purchase histories, as well as their personal information. It also sheds light on how this data is used to manipulate users into buying more products, and how this data is sold to third-party companies for targeted advertising. Ethical issues regarding data collection and the need for greater transparency in the tech industry have always been issues that we as a society have had and need to address.
The article on Joana Moll's investigation into the hidden processes behind an Amazon purchase is very intriguing. It delves into the methods used by large corporations like Amazon to track and collect users' personal information, as well as the amount of energy consumed by these processes. The article highlights the balance between convenience and personal privacy in the digital age, as well as the need to reduce individual ecological footprints. Additionally, it addresses how such data collection is used for profit and the resulting material weight it places on the environment.
"The Hidden Life of an Amazon User" sheds light on the complex web of data collection and surveillance practices that support the Amazon platform. It exposes how user data is exploited by tech companies to influence behavior and drive sales, raising questions about privacy, data ownership, and power dynamics. The article stresses the need for transparency and informed consent in data collection practices and highlights the risk of users being unaware of the extent to which their data is collected and used, impacting their privacy and autonomy. Overall, the article calls for greater accountability, regulation, and transparency in data collection and usage practices in the tech industry.
Week 12b – Glitching the Master’s House(Jung)
While the text touches on a heavier conversation around race, gender, and‘norms’, I personally enjoyed the term‘glitch feminism’ itself. Using the nature of a‘glitch’, being a temporary malfunction or error that occurs within a system or machine that often results in interesting visuals, and connecting that to a mode of representation in society, describing it as a‘glitch’ opens up a whole new conversation.
Week 13b –Exclusive Design (Dev)
Week 13a –The Hidden Life of an Amazon User (Serena)
Week 12b – Glitching the Master’s House (Jung)