Meet Julie Sayo — Ethics Lab's Newest Team Member
Julie Sayo joined Ethics Lab in early October as an Assistant Research Professor in Design & Creative Pedagogy.
Sayo will be collaborating Ethics Lab’s designers and ethicists, as well as with faculty and students from across the University, to shape engaging and impactful ethics-centered curricula through creative teaching practices.
Prior to joining Ethics Lab, Sayo served as a Lecturer at Loyola University Maryland where she taught undergraduate digital media courses within the Communication department and UX courses in the Emerging Media graduate program. Her research interests include the role of design in creating a more just and equitable society and accessible teaching.
She earned her MFA in Graphic Design and MA in Social Design from Maryland Institute College of Art.
Julie Sayo
Assistant Research Professor in Design & Creative Pedagogy
What drew you to join Ethics Lab?
As a designer I have always been interested in the intersections of design and social justice. I haven’t seen other universities or organizations working within that space with a particular focus on the ethical implications of new and emerging technology so that was an intriguing premise for me.
Which project are you most excited about?
I will be working closely with the team on our inaugural student fellowship. That is an exciting opportunity for me to engage with students outside of the classroom on issues around technology and ethics. I look forward to cultivating a forward-thinking and creative community of students who are not afraid of taking risks on novel ideas.
How important is it to push the boundaries of creativity when creating ethical designs?
Generally speaking, technology such as social media serve to maintain a status quo. By using our radical imagination and creativity we should be able to create systems that are more inclusive and welcoming and that benefit more people than current systems do. More designers are starting to think about how their work can contribute to collective good in order to create inclusive and flourishing societies.
Learn more about the Ethics Lab team.