Shame in Design

This article presents a scoping review of shame across multiple disciplines—primarily design, but also psychology, sociology, environmental studies, marketing, and art. It examines the diverse features and meanings of shame, with particular attention to its role in design. By integrating theoretical perspectives with practical insights from culture and public discourse, the review identifies four ways in which shame can inform design practice: regulating behaviors, forming temptations, reducing discomfort, and offering critique. To conceptualize this complexity, the article advances two perspectives: shame as a cluster concept—polyvalent, overlapping, and culturally variable—and shame as a praxeological phenomenon that unfolds in lived practices and design encounters. These perspectives highlight the semantic depth and contextual instability of shame: it can foster inclusion, creativity, and reflection, yet also reinforce exclusion and harm. The review argues that shame cannot be eliminated from design but must be engaged critically and reflexively. Recognizing shame as a dynamic, ethically charged force equips designers to anticipate risks, navigate ambivalence, and mobilize its potential within inclusive, critical, and speculative design. Rather than prescribing a definitive model, this review offers a conceptual and methodological foundation that invites engagement with shame’s fluidity as a productive site of inquiry.