Ethical Visual Design in Engineering Decision-Making: Addressing Bias and Representation

This study explores the ethical aspects of visual design in the decision-making process in engineering projects, particularly with regard to the issue of bias in the context of data visualization. The paper argues that visual design plays a critical role in how data is perceived and interpreted, especially in engineering fields, which often involves complex societal issues. This study introduces the concept of “ethical design activism,” and advocates for data visualization to be used to challenge biased norms and promote social justice. The study concludes that those involved in engineering design should be aware that irrational visual representations can fuel unconscious biases and should therefore adopt ethical practices in this context to ensure accurate visual representations. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes stakeholder feedback and consideration of societal impacts. The results of this study suggest that visual design is not just a means of visually representing engineering projects but stands on the same level as engineering processes that must be based on solid ethical pillars and has great importance for the decision-making process and thus for society as a whole.