EPISODE · Jun 20, 2025 · 1H 8M
#3: Cennydd Bowles on Prototyping the Future, Ethics in Design, and Lessons from Chess
from UX Fika Podcast · host Anna Dahlström
In this episode of the UX Fika podcast, I talk to Cennydd Bowles, technology ethicist, author of Future Ethics, and recently a Fulbright Scholar. Cennydd advises companies like Google, Mozilla, and the BBC on how to build more responsible, ethical, and inclusive technologies – and in this conversation, which just like the rest of season 1 is from 2021, we unpack how and why that work is more urgent than ever.We talk about the ethical blind spots of our industry, the challenges of inclusive design, and how speculative design and “provocatypes” can help teams meaningfully explore the futures they’re shaping, often without realising it.Cennydd shares his journey from designer to futurist, what it’s like being a lone voice for ethics in the room, and how tech workers are beginning to organise to push companies toward more responsible innovation. He also opens up about the realities of writing (and self-publishing) Future Ethics, what it takes to produce something of lasting value, and why he’s was going back to university to study Practical Ethics at Oxford.Plus:☕️ Why a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of Barabrith makes for an excellent fika.🌟 Why you should try to remember when you wanted what you have nowWhat we cover:00:00 Introduction to Design and Futurism02:08 The Role of a Futurist in Design02:20 On Being A Futurist06:57Ethics in Technology and Design09:14 Challenges in the Tech Industry11:30 Direct And Indirect Implications Of What We Design13:23 Designing with Responsibility17:23 Expanding the Scope of Design20:15 The Future of Data Sharing23:35 Navigating Ethical Conversations in Tech28:11 Advice for Junior Designers on Ethics32:18 Pursuing Further Education in Ethics32:41 Pursuing Knowledge: A New Academic Journey34:04 The Self-Publishing Experience36:34 The Challenges of Writing40:04 The Writing Process: Structure and Creativity43:52 Reflections on Writing and Future Projects46:58 Ethics in Technology and Non-Human Life48:15 Personal Interests: Chess and Sports53:11 The Impact of Travel on Life and Work01:00:04 Life Reflections and Future AspirationsWhere you’ll find Cennydd:WebsiteWhere you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:LinkedInWebsiteInstagramIf you liked this episode, help us reach more people by following, leaving a rating and a review.~#uxdesign, #business, #technology, #ai #ethics #innovation #productdesign #uxfika #uxfikapodcast #cennyddbowles
What this episode covers
In this episode of the UX Fika podcast, I talk to Cennydd Bowles, technology ethicist, author of Future Ethics, and recently a Fulbright Scholar. Cennydd advises companies like Google, Mozilla, and the BBC on how to build more responsible, ethical, and inclusive technologies – and in this conversation, which just like the rest of season 1 is from 2021, we unpack how and why that work is more urgent than ever.We talk about the ethical blind spots of our industry, the challenges of inclusive design, and how speculative design and “provocatypes” can help teams meaningfully explore the futures they’re shaping, often without realising it.Cennydd shares his journey from designer to futurist, what it’s like being a lone voice for ethics in the room, and how tech workers are beginning to organise to push companies toward more responsible innovation. He also opens up about the realities of writing (and self-publishing) Future Ethics, what it takes to produce something of lasting value, and why he’s was going back to university to study Practical Ethics at Oxford.Plus:☕️ Why a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of Barabrith makes for an excellent fika.🌟 Why you should try to remember when you wanted what you have nowWhat we cover:00:00 Introduction to Design and Futurism02:08 The Role of a Futurist in Design02:20 On Being A Futurist06:57Ethics in Technology and Design09:14 Challenges in the Tech Industry11:30 Direct And Indirect Implications Of What We Design13:23 Designing with Responsibility17:23 Expanding the Scope of Design20:15 The Future of Data Sharing23:35 Navigating Ethical Conversations in Tech28:11 Advice for Junior Designers on Ethics32:18 Pursuing Further Education in Ethics32:41 Pursuing Knowledge: A New Academic Journey34:04 The Self-Publishing Experience36:34 The Challenges of Writing40:04 The Writing Process: Structure and Creativity43:52 Reflections on Writing and Future Projects46:58 Ethics in Technology and Non-Human Life48:15 Personal Interests: Chess and Sports53:11 The Impact of Travel on Life and Work01:00:04 Life Reflections and Future AspirationsWhere you’ll find Cennydd:WebsiteWhere you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:LinkedInWebsiteInstagramIf you liked this episode, help us reach more people by following, leaving a rating and a review.~#uxdesign, #business, #technology, #ai #ethics #innovation #productdesign #uxfika #uxfikapodcast #cennyddbowles
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#3: Cennydd Bowles on Prototyping the Future, Ethics in Design, and Lessons from Chess
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