In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, we are joined by Sarah Booth to explore an uncomfortable but necessary question: Why do we design with hostility?
Together, we unpack how environments, systems and processes can unintentionally exclude, overwhelm or alienate. From workplaces and public spaces to services and everyday interactions, this conversation challenges the assumption that good design automatically leads to good outcomes.
Sarah invites us to slow down and look beneath intent, asking where efficiency, control or legacy thinking has overridden empathy, care and lived experience. We talk about power, responsibility and the subtle ways design decisions shape behaviour, dignity and belonging.
A central theme emerges: what if designers became choreographers of care?
What if we designed not just for function or aesthetics, but for emotional safety, inclusion and human experience?
This episode is reflective, provocative and quietly hopeful. It is not about blame, but about awareness, accountability and the opportunity to do better.
Topics explored include:
What “hostile design” really looks like and why it often goes unnoticed
The difference between intention and impact in design decision-making
Who gets centred and who gets excluded by default
Designing with care, empathy and responsibility
Reframing the designer’s role as a choreographer of human experience
As always, the conversation is unscripted, honest and occasionally uncomfortable.
Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?
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