Design Meta-Ethics

Pratt Institute


Thesis Project

What happens if you switch the role of user and designer?

Design Meta-Ethics delves into the philosophical underpinnings of what constitutes "Good" and how it applies to the realm of design. As part of this exploration, I created the #CraigRobertsRoom installation, a speculative design piece that intriguingly reverses the roles of designer and user.

In today's world, "users" often find themselves involuntarily consuming content designed to evoke a wide range of emotions, taxing their limited attention economy. The #CraigRobertsRoom challenges this dynamic by empowering users to create content that the designer is compelled to experience. By immersing the designer in a sensory-overloading environment, they confront the consequences of their work and develop greater empathy towards their users.

The #CraigRobertsRoom installation is a testament to the seamless integration of diverse technologies. I developed its interactive interface using front-end code (HTML, JavaScript, etc.) to enable real-time engagement with the live-streamed content featuring the designer. To further enhance user influence over the environment, I hacked Philips Hue LED lights, allowing them to manipulate the ambiance to convey their message effectively. Moreover, I incorporated social media channels like Twitter and YouTube to directly project user-generated content into the physical space.