Ruined by Design

How Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It

By: Mike Monteiro

Narrated by: Mike Monteiro

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The world is working exactly as designed. The combustion engine which is destroying our planet’s atmosphere and rapidly making it inhospitable is working exactly as we designed it. Guns, which lead to so much death, work exactly as they’re designed to work. And every time we “improve” their design, they get better at killing. Facebook’s privacy settings, which have outed gay teens to their conservative parents, are working exactly as designed. Their “real names” initiative, which makes it easier for stalkers to re-find their victims, is working exactly as designed. Twitter’s toxicity and lack of civil discourse is working exactly as it’s designed to work.

The world is working exactly as designed. And it’s not working very well. Which means, we need to do a better job of designing it. Design is a craft with an amazing amount of power. The power to choose. The power to influence. As designers, we need to see ourselves as gatekeepers of what we are bringing into the world and what we choose not to bring into the world.

Design is a craft with responsibility. The responsibility to help create a better world for all. Design is also a craft with a lot of blood on its hands. Every cigarette advertisement is on us. Every gun is on us. Every ballot that a voter cannot understand is on us. Every time social network’s interface allows a stalker to find their victim, that’s on us. The monsters we unleash into the world will carry your name.

This audiobook will make you see that design is a political act. What we choose to design is a political act. Who we choose to work for is a political act. Who we choose to work with is a political act. And, most importantly, the people we’ve excluded from these decisions is the biggest (and stupidest) political act we’ve made as a society.

If you’re a designer, this book might make you angry. It should make you angry. But it will also give you the tools you need to make better decisions. You will learn how to evaluate the potential benefits and harm of what you’re working on. You’ll also learn how to present your concerns, the importance of building and working with diverse teams who can approach problems from multiple points of view, and how to make a case using data and good storytelling. Most of all, you’ll learn to say "no" in a way that’ll make people listen. This audiobook will fill you with the confidence to do the job the way you always wanted to be able to do it. It will help you understand your responsibilities.

©2019 Mike Monteiro (P)2019 Mike Monteiro

Brilliantly angry

I love this book and I think I will listen to it again again and again. You should too. Because we need Mike’s anger, we need his brutal honestly because we have been pampered for too long and it’s time to stop.

It’s too bad Mike let politics get in the way

There’s so much about this book that’s great. And then there’s Mike inserting his liberal political agenda at every opportunity. Full disclosure, I’m a designer that also leans left politically—and I happen to agree with his point of view on most of these topics—but I can also be objective enough to realize not everyone will find ‘working for the Catholic church’ to be an unethical decision (an example he lists in the book). I really wish Mike would’ve exercised some discipline in this area because he has a lot of great things to say, but unfortunately he limited the audience that will be receptive to hearing it.

Highly engaging rant on how much design matters

I'm a big fan of Monteiro's work and this audible book was both informative and entertaining. You feel like you are hanging with Mike at a dive bar in the Mission. He speaks his mind which is rare in the uptight world of Silicon Valley/San Francisco. Mike is not a sheep. All seasoned designer sheeps and designer newbies should listen to his words so they can move beyond being sheeps. He will tell you to stop listening to your bosses when they tell you to make something that will hurt users/customers. He will suggest ideas that push a few buttons. He will show you the way to be a principled product maker. Bravo Mike!

Mike brings you to the light.

As a designer in a workplace that needs change. This book sparks a fire underneath that gives a burning desire to make those necessary changes. Not for your own life, but those around you, and those you’re serving in this ever evolving field of design.

Great book!

Best book I've read in quite a while. Probably applicable so several business areas!
I've recommended it to several friends before even finishing it because I saw value in it extremely fast.

Great case for reform in design & more

Rare book on design and the overall increasingly-digital world that I was able to fly through. Compelling arguments framed within the unease I think many of us feel that the products of our modern economy are being created and managed irresponsibly, short-sightedly, and unprofessionally. The cherry on top is Mike Monteiro sounds like Bob Odenkirk.

Essential reading for anyone in design or development

Mike Monteiro did an incredible job making the case for how designers have contributed to our downfall and how we (yes still us designers) must pick up and work together to fix it. Big props for his constant awareness throughout the book of his privilege, our collective privilege, and all that we are fighting for. Well done. And big props for thanking Gritty at the end.

A must read for…

All designers, developers and engineers and anyone considering pursuing these fields. Mike is raw and provocative. He shines a fog light on the rampant lack of ethical backbone that pervades these fields and offers a blueprint for a way forward. Excellent read!

Most important design book of the last decade

Mike makes a strong and important point on the effects of design in the age of internet. Designers have become very powerful, as their work can reach billions and is used constantly. A must read for everyone working in IT, who makes decisions on how the applications we make are made and not just designers.

Inspirational, motivational

Mike has been mentoring my design career since infancy. at first it was through the video "fuck you, pay me" where he taught me to stand up for my design self and realize I have worth. he also mentioned there that I am responsible for any bad design I make.
in this book, Mike expands on that later part, making us all realize that bad design gas real ass consequences. This book refocuses the simple truth that even though it might be my fault - it IS my responsibility to do good design, and stand up against bad design (and he gives MANY practical ways of doing so)