Industrial design ethics on the basis of akhism principles

Abstract

The institution of Akhism which emerged 13th century in Anatolia not only guided commercial life but also regulated socio-cultural life of Turks for centuries. Design ethics resemble Akhism principles in many aspects, especially in terms of people-oriented approach.While Industrial Design is a commercial activity based on human benefit, Akhism purposes primarily human goodness in commercial life. Akhism held relations based on interest between producer and consumer which was an important problem in trades and crafts those times. Likewise, the Industrial Design profession which emerged 20th century with modern industry provides mutual interest between producer and consumer and optimizes firm’s profit expectation and user’s benefit expectation from the same product.  Nowadays, even if it can be turned into manipulating consumer by commercial concerns, design -as it should be, is an activity which is conducted for human benefit and provides emergence of products and processes that ease the life of people. Human and the economic values which does not conflicts human happiness are priorities of Design Thinking as well as Akhism Thougt System. In this study, ethic responsibilities of designer are discussed on the basis of the principles of Akhism Institution.

Keywords: Industrial Design Ethics, Akhism