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

A bunch of woke garbage with a dash of truth

Monteiro rightly points out that design comes with ethical responsibility....and then advocated using the power of design to destroy people’s freedoms like the first amendment protection of free speech.

Designers have a duty to be ethically and morally right. Cancel culture both unethical and immoral.

Demonizing people for their skin color is immoral. Monteiro spends a lot of time throwing rocks at white people. This is in vogue today. If you inserted any other skin color, there would be mass outrage. I respect his right to hold whatever racist position he likes, but I also have a right to switch off this nonsense.

Going for a refund on this steaming pile.

Not insightful

Big disappointment. I was expecting some insights on how all these ruined designs the book rages about could be replaced with something better. But I learned nothing, because the book does not teach anything of value. The book is just a long rant against capitalism and the patriarchy, and not a very intelligent one. A waste of time.

Why is this author so angry?

I get the point of this book, we are all responsible for our design and should include ethical aspects when designing.

But this book could fit in a blog post.
And listening to the really angry and frustrated writer loose credibility after short while. I lost patience, gave up.
There are better things to spend time on.

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.

I liked the points, not the delivery.

The author makes some solid points in this book. However, he talks about how important that the people causing the problems read/listen to this book. He then proceeds to criticize them. I agree with his points, but I am struggling to finish this book because it is 10% solid advice and 90% shitting on the people who should read it. The author limits the benefit gained from his writing because it alienates the people who need the truths in this book the most.

There is also a blatant refusal to give hard evidence and numbers. The reasoning cited as “well, they don’t, so why should I,” making the entire book an opinionated rant interspersed with good information. I would have loved this book had it just been. Here is my point: how X company messed it up and how they/someone else did it better. For someone preaching inclusion, it sure is a pretty angry book.

It misses the mark, which is unfortunate because the topics discussed in this book could impact the design field and how we work. Although it started as a pamphlet, that may have been its best iteration, or at least the author could re-release it without all the angry ranting.

Doesn't Teach Anything. About Politics, Not Design

As others have said, this book doesn't actually teach anything. It is just a rant. This book is not about design, it's about politics. I'm pretty left leaning myself, but the whole first half of this book was pretty much about how anyone that disagrees with the author should be censored. If that's the book you want, you won't be disappointed. I just thought this book would be about design.

Incredible insight

Mike's perspective on how designers 'fit' into our world. I see the workforce of designers as a potent force for change because our influence is so vast. It hits every industry. Except, we don't see our own worth–I didn't see my worth. This book has helped me understand my role as a business owner, an influencer, a force to help create enduring change.
Thank you Mike.

Woah, listen to this.

Never did I think of the vast impact designers have on my life, my kids, my parents and basically everyone who has internet access. Goodness this is a must listen/read.

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.

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.

Brutally honest

Brutally honest, straight to the point. Facts, facts, facts. Not for soft hearted. Mike focus a lot on Twitter and Facebook, perhaps a few more large company examples would enrich this story, yet it's very passionate, real, and does make you think.

An angry ramble

The author is no doubt passionate in his performance but this isn’t a book about design but more the angry ramblings of the authors political opinions.
I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone trying to learn anything about design.

Great for learning and reflecting about design ethics

I learned a lot and it pushed me to reflect on my past and future work. I have deeply enjoyed any minute of it, the performance is very engaging.

Brilliant

Loved this! Well written, thought provoking, demanding of action and passionately delivered! Worth the time to listen.

excellent book on why ethics in design is importan

If you are thinking about reading/listening to this book, do it. because the topic is either known to you, or you must get to know it. I wish this had been in my curriculum, during my design education.
Mike is also an entertaining author and gives an excelent performance.

Passionate but unfocused.

The call to arms for designs is worthy. The highlighting of the issues of diversity is vital. But the idea that design is something to certify is as vague as the boundaries of design. When we become manager is unionisation really realistic?

Great book poorly narrate

This is the book everybody should read, but especially young designers and/or students. It is a great "starter kit" with valuable guidelines. And it is great for everybody else just to remind ourselves and to get in touch with the industry today. Ethics and morality of design are systematically ignored, not only by designers but the systems designers are working for. Papanek is a beautiful reference.
What I hated was narrating. I literally couldn't listen for more than 30 minutes that theatrical and overly frustrated voice. Mike, I know you are angry, we all are, but words are heavy enough, you don't need to shout. We can hear you.