valuesensitive

Value-sensitive design (VSD) is an approach to technology development that seeks to account for human values throughout the design, implementation, and use of information technologies. The term is often written as value-sensitive or valuesensitive and is used to discuss how designers can anticipate and accommodate ethical and social values in systems. The framework was developed in the field of human-computer interaction by Batya Friedman and colleagues in the 1990s, with the aim of connecting moral theory to practical design decisions.

Value-sensitive design combines conceptual, empirical, and technological investigations. Conceptual investigations identify which values are relevant and how they may be shaped by a technology; empirical investigations explore stakeholder perspectives, contexts, and trade-offs; design investigations translate value considerations into design requirements and evaluate potential solutions. The approach emphasizes stakeholder participation and iterative refinement.

Common values addressed include privacy and autonomy, safety and security, fairness and non-discrimination, accessibility, transparency, accountability, and dignity. VSD can be applied across domains such as information systems, data governance, artificial intelligence, and health technologies, often guiding both requirements engineering and policy considerations. Examples include designing privacy-preserving data practices, creating interfaces that support informed consent, and building AI systems that allow human oversight and redress.

Critics note that value-sensitive design relies on contested and culturally variable values, which can complicate consensus and governance. Operationalizing abstract values into measurable design criteria can be difficult, and attention to value tensions can slow development. Nevertheless, supporters view VSD as a way to promote responsible innovation by making value implications explicit and searchable for designers, organizations, and users.