Juan de la Rosa
Recognising the systemic nature of design as a starting point, this paper establishes a theory-based framework of analysis of the level of impact that design actions can produce in different systemic aspects defined in the correspondent literature. This matrix of assessment of systemic aspects and levels of impact is presented as a tool of initial risk analysis for designers (particularly as a pedagogical tool for those in formation), to create awareness of possible unintended consequences of the work done and the possible need for a deeper analysis through the process of design and ethically address those actions beyond classical approaches. As a result, the paper also explores the current validity of previous work of categorization of design, like the orders proposed by Buchannan based on complexity and measure of influence inside a system and introduces some alternative points of conversation regarding possible ways to redefine those orders.
KEYWORDS: assessment, ethics, design education, methods.