MAINSTREAM

APR 30, 2024
Vaishnavi pittla
Vaishnavipittla
www.instagram.com
Hello Sparklins!! So, I've been thinking a lot about sustainability since a very long time, especially when it comes to designing digital products. It's something that keeps bugging me whenever I think about sustainability. I often wonder: How can we say screens are sustainable when they seem to fuel this addiction culture, particularly among younger generations? How are we contribution to society or people well being? How can we design screens which will help users to lead a better lifestyle? I've come across few of the articles online about sustainable design for digital screens, they all talk about designing screens which has great user experiences, but it feels like they're missing the bigger picture. Sure, we're making products that users love to interact with, but at what cost? It seems like the goal for many companies is to keep users hooked for as long as possible. But where does that leave society? Are we just leading people down a path of endless scrolling and mindless consumption? Recently, I had a conversation with a UX designer from FedEx, and his perspective really got me thinking. He said that as user experience designers, our job is to solve problems for users. The digital screen is just a tool we use to do that. Take booking a cab, for example. Before apps like Uber and Ola came along, it was a hassle to find transportation. But these apps simplified the process and made it way more convenient. We used digital medium to solve this problem. This answer convence me with regards to my question. But then I stumble upon reels like this one - https://www.instagram.com/reel… , and it's honestly pretty scary. It makes me question how our designs are really helping people. What kind of lifestyle are we promoting? I'm genuinely worried about the impact we're having on society as a whole. How can we made it better. Please correct me if I am thinking in a wrong way. I might be off base here, so feel free to correct me or share your own thoughts on the matter. But I think it's crucial for us as designers to consider the broader implications of our work and strive to create products that not only provide great experiences but also contribute positively to the world around us.
❤️
Himanshu Khanna
him
My 2 cents: Do we want to make an active design or preventive design? Think of screens as knives, which are great tools for cutting, chopping onions, potato and other food-related ingredients. The same knife is also used for crime. Should we stop manufacturing knives or educate humans to use knives the right way?
MAY 1, 2024
Vaishnavi pittla
Vaishnavipittla
Absolutely! This is spot on! It's all about ensuring the right education and approach rather than limiting tools. But I also have another perspective on how we can design screens sustainably. Designing screens consumes a lot of energy, leading to a significant emission of CO2. There are many such factors to consider. For example, in architecture, designing a building sustainably involves creating spaces that serve functional needs while also enhancing the experience for people. Additionally, sustainable materials are used for construction, providing good lighting and ventilation to the space which will reduce the use of energy. Similarly, are there any parameters that can help us design screens in a sustainable way? This would not only contribute positively to the world but also promote a better lifestyle for users.
Himanshu Khanna
him
Vaishnavi pittla
Vaishnavi pittla
Absolutely! This is spot on! It's all about ensuring the right education and approach rather than limiting tools. But I also have another perspective on how we can design screens sustainably. Designing screens consumes a lot of energy, leading to a significant emission of CO2. There are many such factors to consider. For example, in architecture, designing a building sustainably involves creating spaces that serve functional needs while also enhancing the experience for people. Additionally, sustainable materials are used for construction, providing good lighting and ventilation to the space which will reduce the use of energy. Similarly, are there any parameters that can help us design screens in a sustainable way? This would not only contribute positively to the world but also promote a better lifestyle for users.
Since it's my duty to share a different take, are we choosing to be designers who serve the norm or create the norm? Whatever we think is sustainable today, is going into prevention mindset instead of innovation mindset. Worth a thought!
MAY 2, 2024
Vaishnavi pittla
Vaishnavipittla
Himanshu Khanna
Himanshu Khanna
Since it's my duty to share a different take, are we choosing to be designers who serve the norm or create the norm? Whatever we think is sustainable today, is going into prevention mindset instead of innovation mindset. Worth a thought!
Absolutely true, Himanshu. I'll definitely think on that. 🤔
❤️