Designing with Ethics and Empathy: Lessons from Arcane’s Viktor for Brand and Product Innovation

In Netflix’s Arcane, Viktor’s relentless pursuit of perfection through his vision of the “Glorious Evolution” serves as a cautionary tale for innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives alike. While Viktor sought to eliminate human suffering, his actions ultimately highlighted the dangers of blind ambition and the unintended consequences of progress. These lessons translate seamlessly into the world of brand and product design, reminding designers to prioritize ethics, individuality, and user experience.

Here’s how these insights can be applied:

1. Prioritize Ethical Design

One of Viktor’s critical missteps was neglecting the ethical implications of his innovation. In product and brand design, failing to consider the societal impact can lead to mistrust or even harm.

Design Action: Ensure your designs respect user privacy, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Example: Apple’s privacy-focused advertising campaigns have built trust by prioritizing user data protection, demonstrating that ethical practices can become a competitive advantage.

By embedding ethical principles, your brand can resonate with users on a deeper level, creating a foundation of trust and respect.

2. Celebrate Individuality and Diversity

Viktor’s hive-mind vision stripped individuals of their uniqueness, rendering life uniform and uninspired. Similarly, a brand that neglects its audience’s diverse needs risks alienation.

Design Action: Offer personalized experiences and products.
Example: Spotify’s “Wrapped” feature highlights user data to deliver a deeply personal experience, celebrating individuality while fostering brand engagement.

Celebrating diversity in design creates a sense of belonging and connection, aligning your product with the unique lives of your audience.

3. Focus on Meaningful User Experiences

In his quest for perfection, Viktor overlooked the importance of struggle, effort, and growth as essential components of human fulfillment. In product design, this translates to creating tools that empower users rather than doing everything for them.

Design Action: Build experiences that challenge and reward users.
Example: Notion offers users flexible tools to design their workflows, empowering them to be creators rather than passive consumers.

Engagement arises when users feel that their input matters. Design should augment human capabilities, not replace them.

4. Balance Perfection with Authenticity

Viktor’s obsession with perfection led to isolation and eventual disaster. Similarly, brands that strive for a flawless facade risk alienating users who value authenticity.

Design Action: Share honest stories of growth and imperfection.
Example: Brands like Glossier thrive by embracing real, unfiltered moments, fostering a relatable and genuine connection with their audience.

Authenticity humanizes a brand, making it approachable and trustworthy in a sea of polished competitors.

5. Plan for Long-Term Impact

Viktor’s vision, though seemingly noble, ignored its long-term implications, leading to dystopian outcomes. In branding and product design, considering the future impact of your decisions is critical.

Design Action: Invest in sustainable practices and forward-thinking strategies.
Example: Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability has cemented its reputation as a leader in ethical business practices, showing that long-term thinking pays off.

Thinking beyond immediate profits and considering legacy ensures that your brand remains relevant and respected.

6. Empower Users Instead of Replacing Them

By attempting to create a perfect world, Viktor inadvertently robbed people of autonomy and creativity. Products should enhance users’ abilities, not make them passive participants.

Design Action: Provide tools that support user creativity and initiative.
Example: Canva empowers users to design professional visuals with ease, striking a balance between guidance and user control.

The goal is to enable users to take ownership of their experiences while feeling supported by your design.

Conclusion

Viktor’s journey in Arcane is a powerful reminder of the responsibilities that come with innovation. As brands and designers, we must strive to create solutions that honor the human spirit—fostering connection, individuality, and ethical progress. By prioritizing these principles, we not only design better products but also contribute to a world where innovation uplifts and empowers.