Designing the Boundary — Human Dignity That Design Must Uphold in an Era of Acceleration

Professor Cathy Lee opened her address by redefining design not as a matter of "what we make," but "what we decide." While design has always produced artifacts, she noted that the deeper inquiry lies in what design permits and what it refuses. Establishing boundaries, she emphasized, is not an act of limitation, but an act of "authorship"—declaring that certain values matter more than others and inscribing that conviction into the world.

Traditionally, design has been understood as the creation of outputs and deliverables. Today, however, it is being repositioned as a critical discipline that shapes the human future, mediates complex systems, and defines the ethical frontiers of innovation. Professor Cathy Lee diagnosed our current reality as an "era of expanding capabilities," where AI and emerging technologies exhibit unprecedented expandability, autonomous judgment, and intimate closeness to human existence. Consequently, the center of gravity in design is shifting: from "Making Artifacts, Designing Products" to "Shaping the Future, Mediating Systems." The coordinates of design are moving from the hands that craft to the judgment that directs. This philosophy translates into principles, and ultimately into real-world applications. Serving as a mediator between technology and human dignity, design must set the terms, embody values, and hold the boundary. The constant question to ask is: "Does this affirm human life, or does it merely optimize it?" Citing the "Designed with Human Dignity" project conducted in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group, she illustrated how principles of Respect, Care, Co-Existence, and Trust are implemented within industrial frameworks. In closing, she emphasized a "mindset" that transcends methodology. While tools can be transferred and methods can be taught, navigating a world that struggles even to name its own crises demands more than a toolkit. Mindset is more than an attitude—it is the catalyst for transforming the world, bridging generations, and opening new pathways for leadership.