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Ruined by Design: How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It by Mike Monteiro
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.
ericfheiman's review
4.0
Sad that a book like this even needed to be written. But here we are. Monteiro’s in equal measures humblebrag, self-deprecating, and sanctimonious tone grates after a while, but that doesn’t make what he says any less true. Really, it’s the perfect book—in tone and content—for our new social media age. Nonetheless, it takes guts as a designer to put this stake in the ground. Kudos, Mike.
guzforster's review
4.0
In Mike's must-read book for young designers, he makes a strong case that everyone involved in creating a product—engineers, product managers, and so on—is a designer. They all need to follow a code of ethics and work towards making users' lives better.
Mike goes on to argue that we should work for the people using the products, not for the ones paying our salaries (GASP!!). When companies start pushing us to do lousy jobs that harm users, we need to draw the line, especially when it comes to data misuse and theft, which are some of the most dangerous things in modern design.
This book is packed with "no-brainer" ideas that are still super important for both new and experienced designers to read and think about. My only gripe is that it's mostly focused on the US, but that doesn't take away from how valuable it is for the design community as a whole.
Mike goes on to argue that we should work for the people using the products, not for the ones paying our salaries (GASP!!). When companies start pushing us to do lousy jobs that harm users, we need to draw the line, especially when it comes to data misuse and theft, which are some of the most dangerous things in modern design.
This book is packed with "no-brainer" ideas that are still super important for both new and experienced designers to read and think about. My only gripe is that it's mostly focused on the US, but that doesn't take away from how valuable it is for the design community as a whole.
jguev_reads's review
4.0
Despite covering a few diluted ideas, this book excelled in its delivery. This is an important conversation to be having and his angry rant made it very enjoyable. It felt like hearing the wisdom of someone's favorite professor or lifelong mentor off record, outside of a classroom setting — it was raw, intimate and vulnerable at times. Most importantly, his discomfort and disgust towards marginalization was contagious. I realized how many gender prerequisites and other "subtleties" I've normalized and reminded me of the responsibility I have as a designer/developer.
morrose's review
3.0
a lot of important things to consider as a new or existing designer. some parts were 4 star worthy, others 2 (became repetitive at times), so it’s a solid 3.5 from me. definitely worth a read or listen, the audio book is great.
imerjanian's review
2.0
Monteiro had some interesting ideas about the ethics of design, but a lot of it comes from a very privileged perspective. He briefly mentioned that it’s hard to fight your boss or quit is hard to do when your family’s healthcare or your visa depends on keeping your job, but doesn’t really offer a solution. He also doesn’t address that standing up for ethical management is much more difficult as a woman or POC.
dashtaisen's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Persuasive, powerful, and full of compassionate honesty and anger