What does

Sustainability,
Meaning,
and Consumerism
have to do with
Interaction Design?

Nathan Shedroff
IXDA SF 2010
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS
SUSTAINABILITY ENGINEERING

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS
DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY

MEANING

EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS
SERVICES

SYSTEMS
Why is this important?
Consumerism
Consumerism
Happiness
 Post-
Consumerism?
 Focus on:

Post-
Consumerism?
value, not objects
(service, experience)
Growth
?
Sustainability
Less > More
More 4 Less
Performance Cost
Satisfaction Energy
Happiness Resources
Meaning Hassle
 We already have tools to use :
Sustainability Helix
Integrate Bottom Line
Okala™ Curriculum

Sustainability
Meaning and Experience Models
covive.com/gri
New Metrics: grossnationalhappiness.com
B-Corp & Corp2020
sustainableminds.com
www.eiolca.net
(and many more)
Meaning
Meaning
the deepest connection that can
be made between people or
between people and objects
Meaning
MEANING
VALUES
EMOTIONS
PRICE
FEATURES
Accomplishment Enlightenment Redemption

Meanings
Beauty

Creation

Community
Freedom

Harmony

Justice
Security

Truth

Validation

Duty Oneness Wonder

Accomplishment Enlightenment Redemption

Values
Beauty

Creation

Community
Freedom

Harmony

Justice
Security

Truth

Validation

Duty Oneness Wonder

Accomplishment Enlightenment Redemption

Values
Beauty

Creation

Community
Freedom

Harmony

Justice
Security

Truth

Validation

Duty Oneness Wonder

Meaning
MEANING
VALUES
EMOTIONS
PRICE
FEATURES
Meaning
All design is the process
of evoking meaning
Meaning
The most successful
experiences are meaningful
(and not merely novel)
 Interaction designers are
well-poised to help
make this happen

Meaning
 Interaction designers are
well-poised to help
make this happen

Meaning
...models, research methods,
comfort with ambiguity, service-
oriented, customer-focused.
Meaning
Is this the way forward?