KEY LEARNINGS

The book opens with the author's personal experience as a nonbinary trans femme navigating airport security. Their encounter with TSA body scanners—which require officers to classify travelers as either "male" or "female"—illustrates how seemingly neutral technology can embed discriminatory practices. This example sets the stage for a deeper exploration of systemic issues, ranging from biased soap dispensers that fail to recognize darker skin tones to countless other instances of exclusionary design that often go unnoticed. Design Justice advocates for an ethical and inclusive approach that addresses historical inequalities while ensuring equitable outcomes for all users. Through case studies, theoretical analysis, and practical examples, Costanza-Chock demonstrates how design—from everyday objects to digital interfaces and urban spaces—shapes our social reality. The book introduces the Design Justice Network's principles, emphasizing the importance of centering marginalized voices and fostering collaborative, participatory approaches in design processes. This paper reviews the book Design Justice and examines how it impacts my future design research and influences me as a design researcher. My original research interests lie in exploring ethical practices in visual communications, particularly in promoting accessibility and inclusivity within graphic communication and emerging technologies. The book's examination of marginalized communities, structural inequality, and the matrix of domination offers crucial insights into the role of design researchers in either perpetuating or challenging systemic oppression. The book challenges designers and design researchers like me to consider questions of power, privilege, and access in our work, suggesting that true innovation arises from embracing diverse perspectives and experiences—particularly those from communities traditionally overlooked in design processes. In the introduction, Costanza-Chock defines the term “design” in multiple ways. One definition that deeply resonated with me is a perspective shared by Arturo Escobar, which Costanza- Chock highlights: “An approach to design that focuses on the creation of a world where many worlds fit” (Costanza-Chock, 2020). As a design researcher, I feel responsible for examining and exploring whether design justice is being practiced in the fields of design and design research— since my goal in designing and researching is to help create a world where many worlds fit. Theoretical Framework Sasha Costanza-Chock's "Design Justice" offers a core transformative framework for understanding design as a powerful mechanism for social change. As an associate professor at Northeastern University, the author brings both academic expertise and personal experience to explore how design processes can perpetuate or challenge systemic inequalities.