The aim of this master’s thesis was to develop an innovative method for Interaction Designers to detect and reflect their implicit bias in the design process. This is intended to contribute to more inclusive decision-making and promote social justice. The central research question is: How can designers identify their implicit bias within the design process to foster more inclusive thinking?
The theoretical foundation of the work is divided into three main areas: The first chapter addresses design for inclusion and introduces the inclusive design process along with methods to promote inclusive designs. The second chapter explains implicit cognitive processes and implicit bias in more detail. The third chapter focuses on implicit bias in the context of design, using the six core dimensions from ‘The Four Layers of Diversity’ by Gardenswartz and Rowe as a basis.
Based on this literature, the game was used as a tool for confronting one’s own bias. In the design process, a game was developed that allows designers to identify implicit bias through intuitive associations with individuals based on the six core dimensions. Using prompting questions, thought processes were reflected to contribute to more conscious and inclusive designs.
Through iterative prototype tests with experts in the educational field and potential users, the game was improved, and its feasibility was verified. The answer to the research question is manifested in a practical game called ‘hexa:mind’. The game was initially developed exclusively for the German-speaking region. Integrating multiple languages and the associated different concepts and associations of individuals would have exceeded the scope of this master’s thesis. This opens up the possibility for further investigations.
