Design

What elements—such as color, typography, and layout—most strongly affect how we read and feel about an image or poster? How can graphic design clarify complex information, and when can it be used to mislead or manipulate? What makes a logo or visual identity memorable across cultures and over time? How do accessibility considerations (like font size and contrast) change the way designers approach their work? Which pieces of graphic design around you feel especially honest or dishonest, and why?

What are the main differences between designing how something looks and designing how it works for the user? How does good UX design reduce cognitive load and frustration for people using an app, website, or device? What ethical questions arise when designers use persuasive techniques to keep users engaged for longer? How can designers make sure that older adults, children, or people with disabilities are not excluded by an interface? What everyday digital product do you find surprisingly easy—or surprisingly hard—to use, and why?

How do designers balance cost, durability, safety, and aesthetics when creating everyday objects? Why do some products feel intuitive to use while others feel clumsy, even if they perform the same function? How can product design encourage repair, reuse, and recycling instead of constant replacement? What role do cultural expectations play in the shape and style of objects like furniture, tools, or appliances? Which product in your home do you think is especially well designed or poorly designed, and what makes you say that?

What makes a chart or diagram clear and trustworthy instead of confusing or misleading? How can visual design help people grasp patterns and risks in complicated data, like climate or health statistics? What responsibilities do designers have when creating visuals that might influence public opinion or policy? How can visualizations be simplified without hiding important uncertainty or nuance in the data? Can you think of a graph or infographic you have seen that strongly changed how you understood an issue?

How is designing a service—like a hospital visit or transit system—different from designing a physical object? What tools do designers use to map all the people, steps, and touchpoints involved in a complex service? How can better service design improve experiences for both workers and users at the same time? What are some examples where small design changes in a system had big impacts on fairness or access? If you could redesign one everyday service in your city, what would it be and what would you change first?

What does it mean for a design to be 'ethical' beyond just being legal or profitable? How can designers reduce environmental harm through material choices, energy use, and product lifecycles? What are some examples where design decisions have clearly harmed vulnerable communities or the planet? How can communities themselves be involved in defining what 'good' design looks like for them? What kinds of incentives or regulations might be needed to make ethical design the default instead of the exception?