Ethics
(Diversity Dimension)

Ethics in biodesign means considering how design decisions affect humans, non-human biological elements, and the ecosystems they belong to. Biological elements are not always passive materials: they may react, adapt, grow, or possess even a degree of agency. The more adaptive or autonomous they are, the more important it becomes to consider their needs, lifecycles, and wellbeing.

Ethical biodesign moves beyond asking only, “What can biology do for us?” It also asks, “What responsibilities do we have towards the life we design with?”

This involves:

Recognising more-than-human interests
Practicing care and stewardship
Designing for mutual benefit
Respecting diversity and different ways of knowing

Actions

Identify who is affected
Map the humans, organisms, species, communities, and ecosystems influenced by your design. Consider who benefits, who performs the work, and who may experience harm or exclusion.

Consider non-human biological elements’ adaptivity
Ask whether the biological element is passive, reactive, or agentic. The greater its adaptivity, the greater your responsibility to support its needs and behaviour.

Design for reciprocity
Avoid treating biology only as a resource. Explore how the design can support the continued wellbeing, regeneration, or flourishing of both human and non-human actors.

Include diverse perspectives
Consider differences such as age, sex, gender, ability, culture, and local conditions. Include scientific, practical, historical, local, and Indigenous knowledge where relevant.

Reflect across lifecycles
Examine what happens during growth, use, care, reproduction, disposal, or decay. Revisit ethical questions throughout the process, as impacts may change over time.

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Ethics (Diversity Dimension)

Identify who is affectedMap the humans, organisms, species, communities, and ecosystems influenced by your design. Consider who benefits, who performs the work, and who may experience harm or exclusion.

Consider non-human biological elements’ adaptivityAsk whether the biological element is passive, reactive, or agentic. The greater its adaptivity, the greater your responsibility to support its needs and behaviour.

Design for reciprocity Avoid treating biology only as a resource. Explore how the design can support the continued wellbeing, regeneration, or flourishing of both human and non-human actors.

Include diverse perspectives Consider differences such as age, sex, gender, ability, culture, and local conditions. Include scientific, practical, historical, local, and Indigenous knowledge where relevant.

Reflect across lifecycles Examine what happens during growth, use, care, reproduction, disposal, or decay. Revisit ethical questions throughout the process, as impacts may change over time.

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Ethics
(Diversity Dimension)

Identify who is affected
Map the humans, organisms, species, communities, and ecosystems influenced by your design. Consider who benefits, who performs the work, and who may experience harm or exclusion.

Consider non-human biological elements’ adaptivity
Ask whether the biological element is passive, reactive, or agentic. The greater its adaptivity, the greater your responsibility to support its needs and behaviour.

Design for reciprocity
Avoid treating biology only as a resource. Explore how the design can support the continued wellbeing, regeneration, or flourishing of both human and non-human actors.

Include diverse perspectives
Consider differences such as age, sex, gender, ability, culture, and local conditions. Include scientific, practical, historical, local, and Indigenous knowledge where relevant.

Reflect across lifecycles
Examine what happens during growth, use, care, reproduction, disposal, or decay. Revisit ethical questions throughout the process, as impacts may change over time.