The article discusses the necessity of radical design practices that prioritize the user over organizational biases. It emphasizes how contemporary technology fosters a mindset of hyper-individualism, where users see themselves at the center of the universe, impacting decision-making and worldview. Historical tendencies to center oneself, as illustrated by political map-making, reflect deeper societal biases that technology and design must address. The reliance on tailored products and services further reinforces this individualistic perspective, calling for a reevaluation of our approaches to design, policymaking, and technology utilization.
Given the positions of power we hold as delivery teams or public servants, we risk placing ourselves at the centre of how problems are solved, working from our own perspectives of what other people need-including any assumptions and biases we might have.
Technology gave us the Sat-Nav or the Google Maps experience that says "You are here." As this 2012 BBC article explains, modern maps put everyone at the centre of the world.
Just think about the recent U.S. renaming of the Gulf of Mexico by the Trump administration. This type of change is only possible if you own and influence the politics of the map.
To me, this feels increasingly like a world of hyper-individualism where the models of the world we build and understand become politically biased as well.
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