Key Insights

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  Implicit bias often manifests as non-neutral or dominant defaults, privileging certain identity groups unconsciously in design.

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  Systemic bias is embedded in institutional procedures and practices, reflecting broader power structures beyond individual prejudices.

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  Technology, such as algorithms and facial recognition, can reproduce and amplify racial and gender bias with serious real-world consequences.

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  Design solutions focused only on surface changes miss deeper cultural norms and beliefs that sustain inequality.

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  Inclusive design requires questioning who the 'default user' is and broadening personas to include marginalized groups.

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  Accountability involves recognizing the gap between designers’ intentions and the actual impacts of their work on exclusion and harm.

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  Intersectionality is key to understanding overlapping social identities and how they affect privilege and oppression within design.

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  Design artifacts like user journeys, personas, and feature prioritization embed systemic biases and need reflexive examination.

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  Socioeconomic bias in design shows up in assumptions about internet quality, device types, and user accessibility globally.

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  Small actions toward inclusivity must be coupled with organizational culture changes addressing incentives and power dynamics.

Notable Quotes