The contributions of human-computer interaction to rethinking design: US-American and European perspectives on critical diversity and design

Abstract

This paper compares US-American and Western/Northern European perspectives on critical diversity and design with a focus on the human-computer interaction (HCI) community. HCI is a field of research and practice at the intersection of computer science, (service) system design, and technology development. It is increasingly concerned with improving the experiences of diverse populations in their interaction with technology through diversity-aware, participatory and just designs. Critical diversity in this context refers to an idea of diversity that centres social justice. Emerging perspectives on diversity and design in the USA and Europe highlight the role of power in design. Against this backdrop, the paper presents an analysis of in-depth expert interviews with 16 HCI researchers and designers based in Europe in comparison with a literature review of US-based perspectives in HCI. The juxtaposition of the two discourses reveals similarities and differences, and highlights the contributions of HCI to rethinking mainstream design practices.