Draft:Positive sum design

Positive Sum Design is a design approach that seeks to create solutions where all stakeholders benefit, moving beyond traditional zero-sum paradigms where one party's gain is another's loss. It acts as a combined cultural critique and basis for approaching a design practice. Taken from game theory, Positive Sum Design begins with a critique of zero-sum bias, a cognitive bias towards zero-sum thinking. It aims to generate value that exceeds the sum of its parts by reimagining and fostering mutually advantageous outcomes.

Background

The concept of a "positive-sum game" originates from game theory, describing scenarios where the total gains and losses are greater than zero, allowing all participants to benefit. Building upon this foundation, Positive Sum Design applies these principles to the process of designing, emphasizing the creation of systems and solutions that maximize collective benefit. This approach challenges the conventional zero-sum mindset, which often operates under a strict logic of scarcity and fixed constraints.

Framework

Triad depicting the key principles of Positive Sum Design (Mutability of Constraints, Multivalence of Utility, Affordances for Trust and Communication)

Positive Sum Design (PSD) is rooted in the idea that collaboration and creativity can generate more value than a system built on zero-sum assumptions. Rather than treating resources as inherently scarce or competition as unavoidable, PSD encourages designers and stakeholders to explore how different needs and perspectives can be satisfied simultaneously. This approach rests on 3 key principles that guide the design process toward solutions where everyone benefits without depleting shared resources.

The first two principles, the Multivalence of Utility and the Mutability of Constraints, work in tandem to expand possible solutions.

Multivalence of Utility

The Multivalence of Utility recognizes that not all stakeholders value the same things. By questioning why people want what they want, designers can uncover new ways to align resources with diverse needs, revealing opportunities that go beyond a simple exchange of goods or services.

Mutability of Constraints

At the same time, the Mutability of Constraints remind us that the boundaries of a problem are rarely fixed. By challenging assumptions about scarcity or rigid frameworks, designers can reimagine constraints - transforming limitations into opening for innovation and shifting perceptions from scarcity to abundance.

Affordances for Trust and Communication

Affordances for Trust and Communication then provide the social glue that keeps these expanded possibilities coherent and sustainable. Affordances for Trust ensure that stakeholders feel safe and confident engaging with one another. By designing transparent, verifiable processes, PSD reduces uncertainty, paving the way for deeper collaboration. Affordances for Communication deepen this trust by creating open channels for dialogue, feedback, and coordination. Whether direct (e.g. discussion forums) or indirect (e.g. cues built into the interface), well-crafted opportunities for communication allow stakeholders to negotiate, learn, and cooperate more effectively.

Together, these principles form a practical framework for building systems that genuinely benefit everyone involved. The Multivalence of Utility and Mutability of Constraints expand the potential landscape of solutions, while Affordances for Trust and Communication make those expanded possibilities viable. By weaving these ideas together, PSD challenges zero-sum biases and demonstrates a path towards designs where shared value grows, rather than being divided.

History

The concept of Positive Sum Design emerged from the intersection of game theory and design processes. While game theory's notion of positive-sum scenarios - situations where all parties can benefit - has been recognized in fields like economics and social sciences, its explicit application to design has been relatively recent, gaining traction with the Critical Futures Symposium hosted by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Digital Commons. This symposium brought together designers and scholars to explore the intersection of design, speculative futures, and critical social science, challenging the narrowing of political discourse around alternative futures as well as how speculative and critical design could serve as a space for rethinking constraints and reimagining systems to generate mutual benefit.

Scholars such as Robert Wright, in Nonzero, argue that non-zero-sum dynamics have significantly influenced the progression of life and human societies. Similarly, Steven Pinker, in The Better Angels of Our Nature, discusses how positive-sum interactions have been pivotal in the development of human civilization.

Building on these theoretical foundations, Positive Sum Design emphasizes integrating game theory principles into the design process to create outcomes where all stakeholders benefit. The article, An introduction to Positive Sum Design, discusses how design can move beyond zero-sum constraints to foster innovation and mutual gain.

Today, Positive Sum Design continues to evolve through the works of the Positive Sum Design Institute, influencing diverse fields by promoting approaches that prioritize mutual advantage and collaborate value creation.