A User Centered Design Strategy to Enhance Sustainable Behavior

Document Type : Original Article

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1335 7th Neighborhood

Abstract

This paper proposes a strategic framework that integrates User-Centred Design (UCD) with Design for Sustainable Behaviour (DfSB) to develop products that effectively encourage sustainable user practices. While UCD focuses on optimizing usability and user satisfaction, and DfSB focuses on influencing behaviour, their combination is essential for creating interventions that are both effective and adopted by users. The proposed framework consists of five stages: (1) Identifying Sustainable Goals, (2) User Research, (3) Strategy Selection, (4) Design and Prototyping, and (5) Usability Testing. This framework was explored through a methodology involving focus groups of product design students, resulting in two product case studies: an energy-efficient kettle and a smart lighting system. The findings suggest that a user-centred approach is critical for diagnosing the root causes of unsustainable behaviours and for selecting and implementing behavioural strategies that users find intuitive and acceptable. The paper argues that this integrated approach can bridge the gap between behavioural intention and action, leading to more successful and human-centred sustainable design outcomes. Results provide a consistant framework for designers and researchers to develop user-centered sustainable products, with potential applications across a wide range of consumer goods.

Keywords

International Design Journal
Volume 15, Issue 6 - Serial Number 68
November and December 2025
Pages 485-491

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