In “Design Justice,” the overarching theme of “FREEDOM FROM BIAS” takes center stage as a fundamental pillar of designing for the public. Costanza-Chock embarks on a mission to shed light on the often unintended but profound impact of design choices, revealing their potential to reinforce oppressive systems. While acknowledging that most modern designers don’t consciously perpetuate these systems, the author asserts that their decisions frequently unintentionally contribute to the matrix of oppression. Consequently, the book advocates for the deliberate institutionalization of a framework that compels designers to thoughtfully consider the broader societal implications of their creations. This entails active engagement with the communities that interact with the resulting products, including both present and potential users.

Costanza-Chock’s exploration commences with an in-depth examination of the concept of design, aiming to formulate a practical definition. While acknowledging that humans are natural designers, the author narrows their focus to professional designers who craft for the public. Design is portrayed as both a verb and a noun, encompassing the manipulation of future objects and systems. This process involves an array of tools, ranging from specialized software to traditional wisdom.

Throughout the book, Costanza-Chock expertly dissects key concepts such as design justice, intersectionality, the matrix of domination, and affordances. The author effectively demonstrates how design plays a pivotal role in the allocation of benefits and burdens among diverse groups of people. Drawing from personal experiences as a member of a minority group and highlighting institutional biases stemming from design choices, Costanza-Chock illustrates how these biases manifest as disaffordances. These disaffordances often translate into microaggressions experienced by marginalized communities, who are simultaneously more susceptible to severe forms of oppression.

Addressing the systemic biases on a significant scale necessitates concerted and organized efforts. Costanza-Chock argues that achieving design justice requires a coalition comprising designers, developers, social movement organizations, policymakers, and everyday individuals. The author proposes several remedial design concepts that could contribute to tackling this challenge effectively. These include value-sensitive design, participatory design, designing for accessibility, inclusive design, universal design, and the need for retooling for design justice. A recurring theme is the indispensable role of communities in driving the desired changes in design decisions and outcomes.

However, some questions linger in the reader’s mind. Costanza-Chock’s call for systemic change raises concerns about who bears the additional costs associated with rectifying these issues. In a landscape dominated by profit-driven private sector entities, the distribution of these costs remains a significant challenge. The book leaves readers pondering, “Who should foot the bill for fixing a biased system: the community of users, the designers/manufacturers, the government, or civil society?” A classic example is the limited availability of books translated into Braille for the visually impaired. Who should shoulder the responsibility and cost: authors/publishers, the user community, the government, or civil society? This is just one of many complex examples of fixing a systemic bias.

Additionally, some of the author’s proposals might seem overly utopian. For instance, the expectation that designers should engage not only with current users but also with potential users raises practical challenges. Defining a representative community of potential users could prove daunting in the long run and may lead to analysis paralysis, potentially stifling innovation and development.

In conclusion, “Design Justice” by Sasha Costanza-Chock provides a thought-provoking exploration of the critical intersection between design, justice, and societal impact. The book calls for a conscious examination of design choices and their consequences, underscoring the importance of involving affected communities. While it offers compelling insights and innovative solutions, it also leaves readers contemplating the practical challenges and costs associated with implementing these ideas in a profit-driven world.