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Lesson 10

Topic

From User-Centered to Planet-Centered: Expanding the Scope of UX Design

Reading Material

Lange, O., and Clasen, K. 2025. "User Experience. Design und Sustainability". Springer Vieweg

UX.pdf

1) What are the new terms in this text? How are they defined? Where do they come from?

  • Formativer Wirkungsraum (Formative Sphere of Influence) is the phase before product launch where design choices directly impact sustainability (e.g., resource/energy efficiency, ethical design, accessibility). This concept came from analysis of an online survey.

  • Prospektiver Wirkungsraum (Prospective Sphere of Influence) is the phase after product launch where design influences user behaviour towards sustainable actions (e.g., Design for Behavior Change, nudging). This also emerged from the online survey analysis.

2) Who are the authors? Where do they work? Who do they refer to?

  • Olga Lange is at the University of Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart and Katharina Clasen is a freelance UX Designer in Baltmannsweiler

3) What questions come to your mind from reading this text?

  • What responsibilities do UX designers have regarding the use of sustainable methods?

4) How does it affect your design practice? What applications do you see in your practice?

  • Being mindful of resource effectiveness and energy effectiveness is important, and will only evolve to be more important in the future.

Brief Summary of Lesson

The lesson was hosted by Mathieu. The topic was about User Experience Design, and why it is so important.

Definition: Create a positive experience, or nudge the user.

There is a direct environmental impact of 3.9% of the global Co2 emissions that stem from UX, as well as indirect Co2 emissions from deliveries for example.

He also talked about the "dark patterns", for example in streaming services and scrolling applications like tiktok/instragram. He mentioned how these can be dangerous, and that it is an ethical question.

Some existing Standarts & Initiatives for more responsible UX design:
- SUX Network (sustainable ux network)
- ISO standarts (international org. for standartisation)
- UN Sustainable Development Goals

To conclude, he mentioned that we have to combine user-centered and life-centered design to be responsible and sustainable.

Takeaways

What stuck with me was the "dangerous" sides of UX design, and how it can be used in an unethical, maybe even addicting way. Thats why being responsible with UX design is very important.