Awkward Silences

#103 - Ethical Design and Respectful UX Research with Kat Zhou of Epidemic Sound


Listen Later

‘Ethical design’ is a term that encompasses a process of designing useful, empowering, and accessible products that do not harm, manipulate, or deceive people. It is, in essence, about treating people you design for with respect and consideration.

That’s a deceptively simple goal, and many companies miss the mark. Kat Zhou joins us today to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and urgent need for ethical design and research.


In this episode:

  • Why is ethical design so critical for both users and companies?
  • How to integrate ethics and respect in your UX research
  • How ethical design empowers inclusive and equitable representation


Highlights:

  • [0:51] What is ethical design in UX?
  • [2:35] Where can you learn about ethical design for UX?
  • [4:38] Ethical design resources for researchers
  • [5:29] What does it mean to treat people with respect?
  • [8:33] Could we balance business goals with respect?
  • [12:40] Pragmatism versus idealism
  • [15:52] What does deceptive design imply?
  • [17:40] Ethical design practices for UX researchers
  • [24:28] Boosting inclusive representation
  • [29:44] Changing the world for the better
  • [34:11] UX regulations
  • [43:00] Kat’s key takeaways on ethical design and research


Sources mentioned in the episode:

  • < Design Ethically >
  • Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
  • Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble
  • This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
  • The UX Designer's Guide to User Research


About our guest

Kat Zhou is a product developer and designer who focuses on integrating ethics into the design of AI systems. Currently, she is the Senior Product Designer at Epidemic Sound. Before that, Kat was the Creator of the < Design Ethically > project, a Member Of The Board Of Advisors at The YX Foundation, and a Product Designer at Spotify and IBM. Kat is also a strong advocate for more inclusive and privacy-friendly approaches to AI.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Awkward SilencesBy User Interviews

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

75 ratings


More shows like Awkward Silences

View all
Decoder with Nilay Patel by The Verge

Decoder with Nilay Patel

3,150 Listeners

Channels with Peter Kafka by Vox Media Podcast Network

Channels with Peter Kafka

559 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,597 Listeners

Creative Confidence Podcast by IDEO U

Creative Confidence Podcast

128 Listeners

Design Better by The Curiosity Department, sponsored by Wix Studio

Design Better

320 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,172 Listeners

Post Reports by The Washington Post

Post Reports

5,459 Listeners

NN/G UX Podcast by Nielsen Norman Group

NN/G UX Podcast

107 Listeners

Hard Fork by The New York Times

Hard Fork

5,470 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

666 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,097 Listeners

Product Thinking by Melissa Perri

Product Thinking

147 Listeners

ReThinking by TED

ReThinking

620 Listeners

The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact | Career by Nikki Anderson

The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact | Career

8 Listeners

The 7 by The Washington Post

The 7

1,221 Listeners