Progress, Not Perfection

At Viget, our values drive our work. We partner with mission-driven organizations, develop company standards for things like accessibility, and contribute to the open source community. Brian, Co-Founder and CEO of Viget, always reminds us, ‘Progress, not perfection,’ and this is true for our pursuit of an ethical, open web.

State of the Web
My annual State of the Web presentation allows us to explore the broader digital landscape and Viget’s role within it. At a recent company offsite, I shared how Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google have transformed the way we shop, access the internet, interact with other people, and consume media. Their ubiquity has brought them each notable financial gain.

And in 2018, these technological and economic behemoths spent a combined $30M on political lobbying. Their success affords them tremendous influence on technology adoption, data privacy policy, and the infrastructure and openness of the web itself.

As engaged citizens of the web, it’s critical we recognize the power these companies have on the internet’s future and that we guard against actions that threaten the principles that have made it such a powerful, open platform. You can read more in my article.

Conversation Around Ethics
The topic of an open web feeds into the conversations we, as individuals and as a company, have recently had around ethics. My colleagues Brandon Dorn and Curt Arledge, both Senior User Experience Designers, have explored this topic in the context of their roles and I encourage you to read Curt’s article about the limits of the ethical designer.

All of Viget engaged in this dialogue during recent company offsites. We discussed the complexities of defining ethics, where boundaries of responsibilities are, and how we might formalize a standard of ethics at Viget. We walked away with more questions than answers, but are excited to continue the conversation. Does your company have a standard of ethics for its work? Respond to this email and let us know.

Newsletter by Mitch Daniels

Our Work

Optify: We took a founder’s idea from the ether into clients’ hands with an initial prototype, brand strategy, and functioning MVP.
FiscalNote: We reimagined this DC startup’s customer journey from brand to product.
Hamilton: We redesigned Hamilton’s product portfolio with Craft and Craft Commerce for increased usability by staff and customers.
Love Has No Labels: We collaborated with Ad Council to develop a user-tested website with actionable tips and inspiring stories to encourage inclusivity.