I think ethical responsibility starts before anything is actually designed. Before adding a new feature, building a product, or deciding how AI should be integrated into a workflow, we should first pause and ask: Who will this help, and who might it harm? New technologies always promise convenience or efficiency, but they can also bring unintended negative effects—on people’s attention, autonomy, privacy, or emotional well-being. As designers, we’re not just making things easier to use; we’re shaping people’s behaviors and choices. That means we can’t ignore the broader consequences of what we put into the world.
A lot of the time, these ethical responsibilities directly conflict with how companies operate under capitalism. Most platforms maximize profit by increasing user engagement and retention, designing interactions that keep people scrolling, clicking, and staying longer than they planned. While this might be good for business metrics, it isn’t always good for users. I believe responsible designers should push back against purely manipulative designs. Users deserve transparency and real informed choice. We shouldn’t create interfaces that quietly guide people into decisions—especially harmful ones—without them realizing it. People should know when AI is shaping their experience, and they should be able to make choices consciously, not be steered by invisible design tricks.
Protecting user agency is essential. Ethical design means making sure users remain active decision-makers rather than passive subjects controlled by algorithms. That includes keeping systems understandable, giving users some level of control, and avoiding dark patterns or emotional manipulation. At the same time, even designs meant to help users can be misused after launch. No system exists in isolation. Designers have to be realistic and prepared for the possibility that tools may be repurposed or abused, which means building safeguards and being ready to take responsibility for unintended outcomes rather than claiming neutrality.
To me, ethical responsibility isn’t about creating “perfect” designs or avoiding risk altogether. It’s about constantly staying aware that our work shapes power relationships between people and technology. Especially in the age of AI, interaction designers carry the responsibility to respect human agency, maintain transparency, and design in ways that genuinely support users rather than exploit them.
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