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Ruined by Design: How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It by Mike Monteiro
lukejones's review against another edition
4.0
It was hard not to compare this to Future Ethics. Where Cennydd Bowles tries to be objective, Mike Monteiro brings a strong opinion and ways to act – I respect the heck out of this book for that.
This is a must read for every designer. If you read it and think 'oh we're not that bad', then you're the problem.
This is a must read for every designer. If you read it and think 'oh we're not that bad', then you're the problem.
inni's review
Absolutely loathed the way he wrote and very self entitled speech. If you’re trying to make a point in an informative way you don’t need the amount of expletives he uses.
erikawawawa's review against another edition
4.0
Although the book is already slightly dated as it was written pre-covid, the core of the overall message - which I understood to be, "YOU HAD ONE JOB (aka a designer's real job is to represent the underrepresented, yet we're failing to do this)", is still relevant today. I don't think anyone can argue against the fact that echo chambers, or any environment that breeds closed perspectives, are evil, nor that diversification is important.
However, I do wish the writing was more concise. Kind of agree with the reviews that are saying that the author is quite ranty.
However, I do wish the writing was more concise. Kind of agree with the reviews that are saying that the author is quite ranty.
robrogan's review against another edition
5.0
DESIGNER?
READ THIS!
DEVELOPER?
READ THIS!
Marketing, product, business person etc in the tech industry... read this please :)
READ THIS!
DEVELOPER?
READ THIS!
Marketing, product, business person etc in the tech industry... read this please :)
linda_don's review against another edition
2.0
Makes some good points, but it could have been 75% shorter and conveyed the same amount of information.
mandirigma's review
4.0
I’m giving this book four stars on a curve because I believe it needs to exist for the audience it was written for: white tech bros who will only listen to another white tech bro (the author basically says as much).
I’m a WOC working in tech and I’m certain many of us minority folk already know most of this stuff through experience and necessity. Diverse hiring practices bring more perspectives to the table and result in a better product. Big social media platforms will never be in the business of protecting their users’ data or lives. And if you really want to make change in the workplace, you need organized labor. A lot of this felt like Humanities 101, but I suppose this is the stuff you miss in STEM and design school.
I will say, I appreciate Monteiro’s fire. And while I thought I was pretty aware of the rampant douchebaggery in Silicon Valley, I still found myself genuinely surprised each time Monteiro cited yet another violation by another tech giant. I also appreciate that he did offer some concrete answers — not in the way of how to save the world from inhumane design, or how to be totally financially okay from getting fired for taking a stand, but in building community with others. There is strength in numbers, and when you act in solidarity with others, they’ll act in solidarity with you.
I’m a WOC working in tech and I’m certain many of us minority folk already know most of this stuff through experience and necessity. Diverse hiring practices bring more perspectives to the table and result in a better product. Big social media platforms will never be in the business of protecting their users’ data or lives. And if you really want to make change in the workplace, you need organized labor. A lot of this felt like Humanities 101, but I suppose this is the stuff you miss in STEM and design school.
I will say, I appreciate Monteiro’s fire. And while I thought I was pretty aware of the rampant douchebaggery in Silicon Valley, I still found myself genuinely surprised each time Monteiro cited yet another violation by another tech giant. I also appreciate that he did offer some concrete answers — not in the way of how to save the world from inhumane design, or how to be totally financially okay from getting fired for taking a stand, but in building community with others. There is strength in numbers, and when you act in solidarity with others, they’ll act in solidarity with you.