The Human(e) Technology Design Studios: An Action-Oriented, Co-Creative Modality for Centering the Human in Critical Technology Discussions

The Human(e) Technology Design Studio is a discourse-driven, action-oriented modality developed by the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at Arizona State University to shape generative opportunities for critical technology discussions with user groups closest to the problem. We outline the rationale for the creation of this modality, with theoretical commitments rooted in the domains of participatory action research and co-creation, as well as the design aspirations informing the studios’ rhythms of insight identification, integration, and activation. We then present a detailed case study of this model that outlines the collective insights and actions generated by our first cohort of academics and technologists across six Design Studios, which culminated in the creation of a Humane Tech Oracle Deck. That two-year process allowed us to iterate the model in response to challenges, as we now move toward creating a public Design Studio toolkit.