15. Social, moral and ethical considerations

Question 1

How can social issues arise from a company?

Answer 1

Social issues can arise when a new product has an unforeseen side effect on a group of people

Question 2

What makes a product socially unacceptable?

Answer 2

If a product was dangerous or affected a person’s health, employment or wealth

Question 3

How can a design have a positive social impact?

Answer 3

It can influence issues such as health and well-being, housing, migration and poverty

Question 4

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Answer 4

It relates to a company’s efforts to support society and sustainable development; being responsible for their own impact.
It is a self-regulatory framework that encourages companies to build long term, sincere goals to find ethical and sustainable solutions.

Question 5

What is an example of a company being socially responsible?

Answer 5

Bosch

• Promised to be carbon neutral by 2020
• Their energy efficiency program plans to save 1.7 terawatt hours of power; enough to power a small city for a year.

Question 6

What factors should consider to be socially responsible?

Answer 6

• Health and safety of employees
• Employees have a fair wage
• Equal rights policy
• Appropriate training schemes for employees
• Flexible hours policy
• Employees being sponsored through university
  Does the company contribute local community?

Question 7

What is the danger of stereotypes?

Answer 7

Stereotypes exist in all areas of life and can be very damaging to progress and mental health for many

Question 8

What is moral dilemma?

Answer 8

Products can be morally challenging to some cultural or religious groups which could have the product banned.

Question 9

What are examples of moral dilemmas?

Answer 9

• Computer games can involve shooting and have realistic graphics
• The use of animal fur for garments offends some in society
• Gambling is illegal in some countries therefore fruit machines and roulette wheels wouldn’t sell and could offend.

Question 10

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS?

Answer 10

Some of the mobile technology we carry around, and that we have at home, is capable of listening to, and recording our conservations

Question 11

How can products cause offence?

Answer 11

Cultural issues can arise when a designer fails to investigate whether a new product could cause offence

Question 12

What are examples of products causing offence?

Answer 12

Common issues are with inappropriate use of colour, words, gesture4s, signs ands symbols that have different meanings around the world

Question 13

What are the example of measures to ensure sustainable, ethical production?

Answer 13

Use of labour, use of materials, manufacturing methods, product profile

Question 14

Use of labour definition

Answer 14

If the employee is fairly paid, safe conditions, child and trafficked labour avoided

Question 15

Use of materials definition

Answer 15

Are they renewable, are they ethically sourced, are they used efficiently, are they recyclable?

Question 16

Manufacturing methods definition in terms of sustainable, ethical production

Answer 16

Are they efficient in the use of energy and materials, do they pollute, are they safe?

Question 17

Product profile definition in terms of sustainable, ethical production

Answer 17

Does it have a positive influence on society or the environment, will it last, is it recyclable and repairable

Question 18

What do designs that have a positive impact involve?

Answer 18

• Using only renewable materials from managed sources
• Using renewable energy to power the production of products
• Using only recycled and recyclable materials
• Designing products to be repairable, reusable and recyclable
• Producing products with low power consumption
• Designing products with fewer components and less weight
• Designing products that are upgradable to extend their life
• Creating products that are sourced, produced and sold locally

Question 19

Best 6R’s in order?

Answer 19

Refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle

Question 20

What does Fairtrade and these type of companies do?

Answer 20

Fairtrade and many other not-for-profit organisations support workers across the globe to get a fair price for their goods, whilst protecting communities and the environment

Question 21

What do designers realise what companies want?

Answer 21

They want quality products with good provenance and try to incorporate this into their product ranges

Question 22

What is the idea of inclusive design?

Answer 22

Designs may be developed to be easily used by the elderly, the disabled, the large and the small

Question 23

What are examples of inclusive design?

Answer 23

Pedestrian crossings have been designed using audible beeps and bright colours for the partially sighted.

They are positioned within easy reach of wheelchairs

Question 24

What methods can make a product accessible?

Answer 24

One size fits all approach
A range of sizes to fit all users
Adjustable to allow use by all
Adaptable to suit the user, location or task

Question 25

How can body scanners and 3d printing help disabled users

Answer 25

They can make more comfortable, customised sockets so limbs fit better and can be worn for longer

Question 26

How can lightweight and flexible materials help disabled people

Answer 26

It can improve shock absorbency and freedom of movement