Materializing Nano Equity: Lessons from Design

Abstract

Many engineers and designers got into their professions in large part because they wanted to create products that help people. Translating this desire into material objects is not a straightforward process. Contexts and complexities often make it difficult for such visions to be realized. In this chapter Dean Nieusma offers advice for designers who want to assist the world's poor and disadvantaged. Unfortunately most of the existing structures and institutions that shape or direct the practice of designers are geared towards the wealthy and powerful. And, as Nieusma points out, understanding both the needs and the context of the ``have nots{''} can be a significant challenge for the ``haves.{''} One way to address these challenges, Nieusma contends, is through participatory design-having the potential users (and perhaps even ``affected non-users{''}) of technology engage in the design process to help limit the biases and misconceptions of the designer Nieusma stresses the importance of such actions because equity is not just an issue of distributing technologies, it can be built into the design of objects-what he calls ``materialized inequity{''} If new nanotechnologies are designed that can only be used by certain people or fit directly into existing systems of inequity they will further those inequities for a long time to come. Nieusma implores designers to be proactive in their design to help ensure that their work does not accidentally make life more difficult for specific groups.-eds.