Paper Two: Social and ethical issues

Question 1

social, moral & ethical issues (summary)

Answer 1

• issues that affect a significant number of people
• moral & ethical: people’s beliefs, what they think of as right & wrong
• designers have some responsibility with these- not cause offence/social faux pas with designs
• issues different in different cultures
• eg environment, health, poverty, discrimination, unemployment

Question 2

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (definition)

Answer 2

• a self-regulatory scheme which provides companies with a framework their social & ethical responsibility in the best way
• not mandatory
• eg Lego- commit to 100% renewable energy & sustainable raw materials by 2030
• eg Disney- encourage volunteering & provide disaster aid

Question 3

benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (7)

Answer 3

• encourages innovation
• reduces costs
• brings employees together
• economically efficient
• socially equitable
• environmentally sustainable development
• still ensures economic growth & development

Question 4

social benefits from military technology (examples)

Answer 4

• PillCam- internal medical imaging (originally for missile tech)
• Radar- safe air travel (developed WW2)
• EpiPen- automatically injecting syringe (developed to protect against nerve agents & chemical weapons)
• GPS (US defence system)
• penicillin (wide use during WW1)
• nylon & synthetic materials (dev WW2)

Question 5

sustainability (definition)

Answer 5

reducing the impact of products & activities etc on the natural environment

Question 6

sustainable strategies implemented by companies (4)

Answer 6

• sustainability review before project start
• source materials locally (eg Grown in Britain campaign)
• use responsible managed resources (eg FSC)
• use Fair-trade certified products when accessible

Question 7

What is inclusive design, defined by the BSI

Answer 7

• the design of mainstream products and/or services that are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible, without the need for special adaption of specialised design
• the Disability Dicrimination Act 1995 has made an impact on many areas, such as public transport and accessibility
• designers must accomodate a diverse range of people without stigmatising them

Question 8

Name some examples of inclusive design

Answer 8

• updated standards for wider doors for wheelchairs in new houses
• OXO’s award winning Good Grips range of easy to use kitchen utensils
• buses with lower floors for wheelchair and bright yellow, heavily visible handrails
• pedestrain crossings with raised pavement bumps, ramps and sensory feedback
• hearing induction loops in theatres for members of the audience with a hearing impairment

Question 9

Why does culture need to be accepted in design

Answer 9

• essential for companies to avoid creating offensive products dor their domestic and global markets
• if potential customers are offended and alienated, there is a financial cost and other wider advantages for the business

Question 10

What are some ways in which designers can help society by addressing social issues

Answer 10

• innovative child friendly litter bin designs to encourage the adoption of good servcies
• ‘black box’ devices used by car insurance companies to monitor young drivers
• scanning devices used by police to check for illegal drugs and explosives