︎

Speaking



Why I Speak
Ethics in design is not just my niche—it’s my mission. I’ve seen how tech can erode trust, exploit attention, and distort our sense of self. But I’ve also seen what’s possible when we design with humanity in mind.

I speak to empower designers and decision-makers to consider the why behind the what. To remember that every choice we make—from UI patterns to data flows—is a reflection of our values. My goal is to help shape a design culture that centers people over profits, integrity over growth, and long-term good over short-term gain.

📬 Book Me to Speak
If you're hosting a conference, panel, podcast, or internal event and want to explore ethics in design in a compelling and practical way—I’d love to be part of the conversation.

I bring energy, clarity, and a deep passion for helping teams think more critically and compassionately about the products they create.

👉 Email me at: reidrhea@gmail.com or use the Contact Form.

Signature Talk
Ethics in Design: Building Tech That Honors People

Technology is not neutral—and neither is design. In this talk, Rhea unpacks what it means to design ethically in a digital world increasingly driven by engagement, surveillance, and manipulation. She explores:

  • How design choices impact user behavior and autonomy
  • The rise of dark patterns—and how to spot and dismantle them
  • The role of the designer as a moral agent, not just a pixel pusher
  • Case studies of ethical breaches and courageous counterexamples
  • Practical frameworks for ethical decision-making in product teams

This talk is ideal for product designers, engineers, creative teams, and organizational leaders who want to build products that are not only effective—but principled.


Select Speaking Engagements

  • 2025 – Tech Intersections — “The Human-Tech Nexus: Preserving Our Humanity in a Digital World”, This talk examines how we can preserve our humanity—empathy, creativity, and authentic connection—in an increasingly digital world.

  • 2022 – Information Architecture Conference, Tech Intersections — “Design as Translation”,
    A talk exploring how principles from literary translation can inform user-friendly design by bringing digital experiences closer to the user.

  • 2021 – Women Talk Design — “Finding Joy in Any Job”, Lightning talk related to career switching and approaching work from a place of gratitude.


                                   
Speaker Bio 
 Rhea Reid is a UX and Production Designer, design producer, and speaker specializing in ethics in design—a field at the critical intersection of technology, human dignity, and social responsibility. With a background in Translation and Interpreting and a lifelong love of communication, Rhea brings a rare interdisciplinary lens to the question: What kind of world are we designing?

Her fascination with the ethical implications of technology began in college, where she wrote extensively on how social platforms were reshaping human relationships and attention. Today, she draws from years of design work, community engagement with the Center for Humane Technology, and a deep respect for thinkers like Jaron Lanier, Cal Newport, and Tristan Harris to guide her work and message.

Rhea has been speaking publicly since childhood—winning awards in oratorical competitions, joining Toastmasters Los Angeles as an adult, and speaking at design and tech conferences around the country. She invites audiences to think beyond functionality and aesthetics, urging designers, product teams, and leaders to design with intention, integrity, and accountability.


RR—’25