INFO 464: Value Sensitive Design

Instructor: Lindah Kotut
Meeting Times: Monday, Wednesday 8:30-10:20 AM (MGH 254)
TA: Sonia Dashti
Office Hours: See Canvas

Course Description

Introduction to value-sensitive design (VSD), information system design that accounts for human values in a principled and comprehensive manner. Examination of existing systems from a VSD perspective. Explores VSD research methods including conceptual, technical, empirical investigations. Key values include accountability, autonomy, consent, privacy, property, trust, sustainability and other emerging themes.

All upto date information will be posted on Canvas.

Course Schedule

Week/Dates          Topic Description Readings Due
Week 1
Sep 3		 Course Introduction and Overview Course welcome and orientation, then general overview of the topic we will cover this quarter.
  • None
 None
Week 2
Jan 8		 Value Sensitive Design Formal introduction to value sensitive design, including the general theory of design, the difference between method and methodology and explore questions such as if technology is neutral.
  • "Introduction" (Chapter 1) from Value Sensitive Design: Shaping Technology with Moral Imagination by Friedman and Hendry
 Design Studio 01
Jan 10 We will dig into the components that make value sensitive design, refresh our knowledge of direct and indirect stakeholder analysis, value scenarios etc., and how these can be applied to technology.
  • "The Universal Design Ideal" by Anna Leahy (2019)
Design Entry 1 (Calling Card)
Week 3
Jan 15		 MLK Holiday. No class.
Jan 17 Tools, Technology and Infrastructure We will explore the relationship between the ideas on tools, technology and infrastructure and how we are all impacted (both humans and non humans).
  • "Methods" (Chapter 3) from Value Sensitive Design: Shaping Technology with Moral Imagination by Friedman and Hendry
 Design Studio 02
Week 4
Jan 22		 Human Values and Artificial Intelligence We delve into the discussion on values. Within this, we will consider the notions of tradeoffs and cost-benefit analysis and what they say about human values.
  • "Theory" (Chapter 2) from Value Sensitive Design: Shaping Technology with Moral Imagination by Friedman and Hendry
  • "Requiem for an Interface" by Steve Harrison and Deborah Tatar (2023)
 Design Studio 03
Jan 24 We touch on artificial intelligence (AI) and where/how this changes our understanding of human values. Additionally, we will explore the importance of human values to the design and use of AI tools.
  • "Enjoying Wine: Opportunities and Challenges for Interaction Design" by Jeni Paay (2023)
 Design Entry 02: zine/Human Values and AI
Week 5
Jan 29		 Tripartite Methodology We will begin the discussion on interactional stance: discussing conceptual, empirical and technical investigation and how we practice them.
  • Chapter 2 (Theory): Interactional Stance (pg 29 - 31) and Tripartite Methodology (pg 31-35)
Jan 31 MIDTERM The midterm provides an opportunity for the research groups to provide a 5-minute project pitch. This can be presented live, or be prerecorded. Project Pitch Document
Week 6
Feb 05		 Stakeholders, Views and Values We conduct a deeper dive into the tripartite method, and do a survey of how this approach has been used across different research endeavors.
  • Chapter 2 (Theory): Stakeholders (pg 35-43) and Value Tensions (pg 35-pg 48)
 Design Studio 04
Feb 07 We connect and discuss researchers stance, VSD applicability (and weaknesses) when discussing other domain stances on justice, equity and accessibility.
  • "Introduction" Chapter from Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need by Sasha Costanza-Chock
Week 7
Feb 12 		Evolving Technology and Adversarial Design First we discuss how to account for different stakeholders and how they change the tools we build.
  • Chapter 2 (Theory): Co-Evolving technology and Social Structure (pg 49-51). We will discuss this alongside Method 4 (pg 68).
 Design Studio 05
Feb 14 We will then discuss adversarial design and dark patterns, the tensions they introduce, and how they impact how we think about stakeholders and values.
  • "Dark Patterns: Past, Present, and Future -- The evolution of tricky user interfaces" by Arvind Narayanan, Arunesh Mathur, Marshini Chetty, and Mihir Kshirsagar (2020).
 Design Entry 03: Card Artifacts
Week 8
Feb 19 		Presidents Day. No class.
Feb 21 Sustainability & Multi-Lifespan Design We discuss the lifecycle of technologies and what happens when they are discarded, and alternate approaches on re-use.
  • Chapter 2 (Theory): Multi-Lifespan Design (Pg 51-55) We will discuss this alongside Method 16 (pg 83).
 Design Studio 06
Design 04
Week 9
Feb 26 		Speculative Design & Responsible Innovation We exercise our future-facing muscles and envision future technology and values impact on them.
  • "When your invention becomes a weapon" with Chris Anderson Should This Exist? Podcast. (Either listen to the podcast or read through the transcript)
 Design Studio 07
Feb 28 We discuss the notion of responsible innovation, and the values that inspire this approach.
  • "Willing Buyer, Willing Seller: Personal Data Trade as a Service" by Lindah Kotut, Timothy L. Stelter, Michael Horning and D. Scott McCrickard. (2020)
 Design Entry 05: Bonus
Week 10
Mar 04		 Wrap Up and Project Presentations We will be celebrating your projects and getting to see and hear about the findings and impact of your project. The presentations should not exceed 10 minutes (including Q&A), and can be either be presented live, or be prerecorded. Final Presentation
Mar 06 Presentations Day 2 Final Report

Grading and Late Submission Policy

There are four groups of assignments that will determine your final grade for this class:

  • 10% : Participation. Encapsulates your sharing of material from design studio, and giving feedback to classmates on their design entries.
  • 30% : Design Studio (weekly). Design activities to be conducted during the Seminar session.
  • 20% : Design Entries. Individual (some pair collaboration allowed) design artifact/prototypes that provide opportunities to engage with the key theme of the week.
  • 40% : Final VSD-Project that you will be working on throughout the quarter.

Late Policy

  • The Design Entries are due on Friday by 11:59pm (except for the first design entry). Every student will have a total of 3 "bank days" that allow them to submit one or more assignment late with no explanation. For example, you can can submit three assignments a day late and a fourth assignment two days late. When you wish to use your bank days, let the TA know and they will adjust the due date for your assignment so that you are able to submit late. Only individual assignments are eligible for bank day use.
  • There is a 10% penalty for submitting the Design Studio upto to a day late. No Design Studio will be accepted more than 24 hours late..
  • The VSD Project does not have a late submission allowance.
  • If you have religious exception or other documented accommodation that would prevent you from attending the seminar (and therefore complete the Design Studio), you will be excused from completing the assignment.
  • If you are having trouble keeping up with the class pace, are generally struggling, let me know and we'll work on making sure you have the resources to succeed.