The Ethical Turn of Emerging Design Practices

Ignited by the transformative impact of technoscience, diverse alternative design practices have emerged, each distinct from prevailing norms. Within this heterogeneous landscape, a common theme emerges: an inclination toward ethical considerations, closely tied to or stemming from these novel approaches and practices, warranting thorough investigation. This article adopts a dual strategy. First, it introduces technoscience as the catalyst behind this transition, framing the contextual backdrop. Second, based on Jürgen Habermas’s knowledge-interest theory and its tripartite structure, this article focuses on those emerging design practices which deal with ethical and social design, a category that has become especially significant since 2000. The subsequent analysis explores the significant ethical turn within diverse disciplines and these emerging design practices, illustrated across domains. This transformation unfolds in ontological, epistemological, and methodological dimensions, signifying a renewal of design ethics. The article establishes a fundamental framework to comprehend a field without rigid boundaries, facilitating future critique and ongoing design research progress.