Sustainable UX: Prioritizing sustainability vs. engagement

UX design, often perceived as inherently sustainable due to its digital nature, is examined in the context of its environmental impact, highlighting that digital products still rely on non-renewable resources. The increasing median page weight, driven by assets like videos and images, demonstrates how UX design choices contribute to higher energy consumption. Trends such as infinite scrolling and AI-powered features further exacerbate this issue by demanding more energy. While engagement metrics traditionally prioritize user interaction quantity, this approach conflicts with sustainability. The article suggests redefining engagement to focus on quality-driven metrics, such as task success rates, and designing only necessary user interactions to balance engagement with sustainability. By implementing practices like minimizing UI designs, limiting animations, and advocating for efficient resource use, UX designers can reduce their products' carbon footprint. These strategies can help normalize sustainable UX practices, ultimately optimizing user experience while decreasing energy consumption.