How wording, hierarchy, and moments of friction can support considered action.Aristotle statue by Jerry Anderson at Southern Utah University’s Centurium, Cedar City, Utah. Image source: Southern Utah University.One thing that troubles me about designers is how readily some treat public expressions of moral conviction as evidence of sound ethical judgment. They announce their commitments to causes they regard as worthy, speak confidently about responsible practice, yet fail to examine their own biases or the ethical tensions within their decisions.Virtue signaling is not a substitute for reflective ethical judgment.Claiming the moral high ground does not demonstrate the judgment needed to question one’s assumptions, recognize competing values, or explain why particular priorities should guide someone else’s experience.As designers, our convictions carry weight because we make decisions...