Advocating for responsible tech
Omidyar Network works to ensure that technology is a force for good in our communities. Together, we built the Ethical Explorer Pack: a physical and digital toolkit to pioneer a new standard for building tech that’s safer, healthier, fairer, and more inclusive for all.
Setting context
As concerns around data privacy, biases in artificial intelligence, and digital well-being grow, designers and developers everywhere are searching for ways to anticipate the unintended consequences of tech.
But generating awareness and conversation around tech ethics is not easy. For the committed few, it can feel like an uphill battle, full-time job, and uncharted territory all rolled into one. That’s where the Ethical Explorer Pack comes in.
Primary contributions:
+ Method and tool development
+ Generative and evaluative research
+ Community roundtable facilitation
+ Naming, branding, and visual design
Role:
Research, Design, and Content Lead
Credits:
Created at: Artefact
Website: Ethical Explorer Pack
Illustration collaborator: Pong Ko
Research + strategy collaborator: Jeff Turkleson
Executive Creative Director: Neeti Sanyal and Sheryl Cababa
Marketing partner: FleishmanHillard
Through a series of generative and evaluative interviews with product managers, designers, engineers, and start-up founders, as well as community roundtables with responsible tech experts in New York and San Francisco—we learned that the hardest part of trying to understand the long-term consequences of the products we create is knowing where to start and getting people to care.
So, we created an approachable, actionable guide to foster a culture of questioning, challenge norms, and design tech products built with responsibility at the core.
Tech Risk Zones
The Ethical Explorer Pack centers around eight Tech Risk Zones from algorithmic bias to disinformation. We designed a unique illustration for each zone that expresses unforeseen danger and potential challenges Explorers might encounter in the wild.
Based on research, we developed three sets of questions to provoke thoughtful conversation to help teams figure out where they stand, anticipate risk, and lead the way when it comes to radical change.
The Field Guide
Complementing the Risk Zone cards, the Field Guide suggests five different activities to help both individuals and groups start their journey toward more ethical technology and gain buy-in within their organizations. Explore as a group to build habits moving forward, or reflect and challenge past decisions on your own.
Unique stickers let Explorers show off their passion and advocacy for ethical, inclusive, and safe technology.
Impact
In the first few months that the Ethical Explorer Pack was launched, it was downloaded over 2,000 times and received acclaim in Cool Hunting and Wired.
To continue growing a movement of passionate people committed to ensuring technology benefits and protects the people it serves, I created and co-presented an Ethical Explorer introductory webinar through Artefact’s Impact by Design series.
“Artefact was the ideal partner to bring our vision to life in the Ethical Explorer Pack. The team provided thought and care every step of the way, with excellent communication and beautiful final output.”
– Sarah Drinkwater
Director, Beneficial Technology, Omidyar Network