Cashed Out: When Progress Leaves People Behind

This is a design justice zine for the INM317 Design Justice module at City, University of London. "Cashed Out: When Progress Leaves People Behind" critically examines how the rapid transition to cashless payment systems creates and amplifies social injustices through digital exclusion.The zine investigates how contactless payment technologies, while promising convenience and efficiency, systematically exclude vulnerable populations, including elderly citizens, unbanked individuals, people experiencing homelessness, those with disabilities, and communities with limited digital literacy. Drawing on design justice principles and frameworks from the course materials, this publication presents evidence of how seemingly neutral payment interfaces embed discriminatory assumptions about users' access to banking, smartphones, stable internet connections, and digital skills.