How can you design UX solutions for energy and the environment?

The biggest environmental impact (why) is picking the problem you want to solve (what) and how you are going to solve it (how). So, if you're not a founder, the sooner you can get involved, the better. And like an entrepreneur runs the numbers for the business case, you should run the numbers for the footprint. Because only if these add up, you have true impact and you are not greenwashing. From then on the differences are not that huge with regular UX design. You have to gain traction, but this time minus the dark patterns!

This is a fantastic topic and a great area of opportunity for UX to become a greener discipline! At the core of your scope and goals needs to be a clear definition of what UX can do to make services and products better for sustainability. Overall, things that one needs to consider when defining scope from this perspective should include accessibility concerns, resources available and of course, social impact as a goal, as these things are interconnected with energy and environment

Start by exploring the latest trends, technologies, and innovations in renewable energy, sustainability practices, and environmental conservation. This research will not only provide insights into the challenges faced by users but also help in identifying opportunities for improvement.

Designing UX solutions for energy and the environment involves a multidisciplinary approach. It starts with deep research into sustainable practices and energy efficiency. Crafting user interfaces that educate and encourage eco-conscious behavior is crucial. Clear data visualization can help users monitor their energy consumption, while gamification and incentives can motivate greener choices. Collaborating with experts in environmental science ensures accuracy and relevance. Above all, user empathy guides the creation of intuitive interfaces that make sustainable decisions easy and rewarding. Continuous iteration and user feedback refine these solutions to have a lasting positive impact on both users and the planet.

Find a question, find a problem first you want to solve. There is a surge of energy and environmental related startups due to EU initiatives so there are many ideas out there already. Analyze the startup trends out there and find the gap in the current market before you set your goals. If the particular market is saturated (like data management), find out what features are missing in most market available tools.

We must also attempt to extract the words they use. The language they use to describe their needs is critical to understand. Those same words can be used later to communicate with message points that resonate better than using industry language they don't understand.

Consider the needs and expectations of diverse user groups, including consumers, businesses, and regulatory bodies. Conduct interviews, surveys, and usability tests to gather qualitative and quantitative data that will inform your UX design decisions. By empathizing with the end users and understanding their pain points, you can tailor your solutions to address specific issues and enhance overall user satisfaction.

Don't forget to focus on what they are trying to get done, and what are they trying to accomplish? Turn everything you learn into a customer need. Then solutions can be brainstormed and iterated based on the identified needs.

?? Crafting a UX prototype for energy-related products and the environment is two-fold. When designing prototypes for environmental solutions, I explore two approaches. One focuses on creating an accessible prototype for all users, while the other minimizes the environmental impact. We gather insights and make informed decisions by conducting an A/B test with these prototypes. For example, we examine how different colors emit light, ensuring accessibility while considering the interface's overall footprint. Testing prototypes with positive aspects and potential drawbacks is key to finding a win-win solution. ?? My goal? Create a sustainable and accessible experience while improving the world through design!

An effective way for communication is to articulate design decisions. ?Here are some important steps: Preparation for Anticipation: Get ready to explain your choice of a particular approach. Visualize and Document: Develop mock-ups that address potential queries from team members. Establish a Decision Log: In situations where the rationale for selecting one solution over another might be forgotten, create a decision log to maintain clarity.

As you move into the design phase, prioritize simplicity and accessibility in your UX solutions. Create intuitive interfaces that guide users seamlessly through complex processes related to energy consumption, resource management, and environmental impact. Incorporate elements that educate and raise awareness about sustainable practices, encouraging users to make environmentally conscious decisions.

Video snippets are one of the best ways to get your point across when sharing research findings. Hearing the customer's words is a way to quickly convey reasons and rationale for design choices.

A simple and objective way to influence good decisions linked to environmental impacts is to always present possible solutions with an expectation of return, which can happen in the short, medium and long term. Bringing a broad vision of the future makes it easier to make decisions for this organization, its benefits and the level of effort that will be required in each phase of implementing the solution.

Albeit this topic might be a bit new to the UX world, Don Norman has been talking about sustainability and designing for a better world for a few years now. The fact is that, we as designers can't change the world in a day. Heck, nobody can. But having sustainability in the back of our minds during the design process, and tilting some of the solutions towards a better environment will do wonders. Imagine if everyone did just one small step towards making the world better. For example, you have a POS system as part of your product and you ship physical devices towards your clients when they need it (during events for example). Why not create a solution that can work on mobile too? Or make your user flow more efficient to reduce screen time?

?? DESIGN CAN'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM! Some global & environmental problems are a collective effort. BUT BUT BUT, definitely designers can keep these issues in the front of their minds while designing. ?? Eg. - Reduce paperwork - embrace digital products. Quick process, transparency & better UX. ?? - Easy to use products require strategic design decisions. ?? - Mass scale sustainability education requires Information Design. Here also design could play a role. ??

There are Hackathons online remote based where you can come up with concepts for energy and environment with a group of participants together and try to bring the idea to live within the time frame. It is a lot of fun if you have some ideas and want to test it out since there are developers there willing to work together for the Hackathons.