by mert.altinoez -

Impulse #4 – SUX-Podcast EP15 „A Fossil-Free Internet by 2030“ with Hannah Smith

In the SUX Podcast Episode 15, titled “A Fossil-Free Internet by 2030,” Hannah Smith shared her insights on sustainability and the crucial role of rethinking our digital practices.

Understanding Sustainability

Hannah defines sustainability as meeting today’s needs while ensuring there’s enough left for future generations. This definition goes beyond environmental concerns, emphasizing personal and societal endurance. It’s about a balanced approach, acknowledging that perfection isn’t possible but striving for incremental improvements.

This idea resonates deeply with the challenges of implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Every action has trade-offs: improving one area often comes at a cost in another. Progress lies in collective effort, finding a balance that optimizes outcomes for all stakeholders.

The Mission for a Fossil-Free Internet

The Green Web Foundation, where Hannah works, aims to achieve a fossil-free internet by 2030. They offer tools like the Green Web Check service, which identifies whether a website is hosted by a provider using renewable energy, and CO2.JS, a toolkit for measuring carbon emissions in tech. Their mission highlights the tangible steps individuals and organizations can take to reduce their digital carbon footprint. Despite these efforts, the internet remains far from being fossil-free. 

Awareness is critical. Many people wrongly assume that digital services operate in an intangible “cloud,” when in reality, they depend on physical infrastructure with significant environmental impacts. Hannah emphasizes that we need to reduce reliance on tech, scaling down digital infrastructure alongside improving efficiency. This approach recognizes that innovation alone cannot solve this problem, some actions require scaling back consumption entirely.

Global Inequalities in Digital Consumption

One of the podcast’s most striking revelations is the disparity between tech consumption in the global north and south. The global north’s overconsumption of AI and other technologies often exploits resources and labor from less-developed regions. For instance, moderators in developing countries endure traumatic tasks, such as filtering harmful content, to ensure safe user experiences elsewhere.

This imbalance highlights the ethical dimension of digital sustainability. Addressing these inequities involves recognizing the hidden human costs behind the “magic” of digital services and finding ways to reduce exploitation while meeting the true needs of all communities.

The Power of Stories and Creativity

Hannah argues that stories play a crucial role in shaping perspectives on the internet and sustainability. Whether real or imaginative, stories can inspire action and help envision a better digital future. She cautions, however, that technologies like AI threaten human creativity by encouraging over-reliance on machines for imaginative tasks.

If left unchecked, this trend could erode the skills and creativity of future generations. While AI offers short-term productivity gains, it risks undermining long-term societal efficiency by removing opportunities to learn foundational skills. A sustainable digital future must prioritize human creativity and imagination.

Actionable Steps Toward Digital Sustainability

So, how can individuals contribute to digital sustainability? Hannah provides practical suggestions:

  • Embrace Longevity: Use tech devices for as long as possible and resist the urge to upgrade unnecessarily.
  • Slow Down: Avoid rushing into adopting new technologies. Instead, take the time to evaluate their impact.
  • Bake in Accessibility: Ensure tech products are accessible to as many people as possible, prioritizing inclusivity over novelty.
  • Start Conversations: Discuss digital sustainability within your social circles and beyond, spreading awareness about the physical and social costs of digital infrastructure.
  • Reassess AI Use: Consider whether AI is necessary for specific tasks or if a human touch could provide more value.

Lessons Learned

From Hannah’s discussion, here are three key lessons about digital sustainability:

  • Perfection Isn’t the Goal, Progress Is: Achieving sustainability isn’t about flawless solutions but about making small, meaningful changes that collectively drive improvement.
  • Digital Has a Physical Cost: The internet’s environmental impact isn’t limited to energy consumption, it includes the resource-intensive production of tech infrastructure. Awareness of this connection is foundational to change.
  • Equity Matters: True sustainability must address global inequalities in digital consumption and labor. Without considering these disparities, progress will remain incomplete.
Links

The Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/suxpodcast/episodes/SUX-EP-15—A-fossil-free-Internet-by-2030-with-Hannah-Smith-e2k5e7c/a-aba96i5

SUX: https://sustainableuxnetwork.com

The Green Web Foundation: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org

Branch Magazine: https://branch.climateaction.tech

by mert.altinoez -

Impulse #2 – SUX-Podcast EP13 – „Changing design towards a better world“ with Don Norman

The conversation around design and sustainability is evolving, especially with thought leaders like Don Norman challenging traditional ideas. In the SUX-Podcast EP13 – “Changing design towards a better world” Norman addresses how design can pivot to make a more profound impact on both society and the planet.

Curiosity as a Driver of Innovation

Norman opens with a compelling call to embrace curiosity, stating that “a lot of creativity comes from curiosity.” This mindset shift is essential for designers, especially in the context of sustainability, because it encourages them to question established norms and explore unconventional solutions. Curiosity leads designers to explore, question, and test new ideas—a critical approach in a world where conventional methods may no longer be sufficient.

Redefining “Sustainability”

One of the most thought-provoking points Norman raises is about the term “sustainability” itself. According to him, the term is now outdated because it implies maintaining the status quo, which is no longer enough given today’s environmental challenges. In its original context, sustainability aimed to prevent things from worsening. However, “sustaining” harmful systems is counterproductive. For example, sustaining high levels of pollution or non-recyclable product design perpetuates the very problems sustainability once sought to avoid.

Humanity-Centered Design: Beyond Humans Alone

Norman’s concept of “Humanity-Centered Design” (HCD) is a shift from focusing solely on human convenience to a more inclusive approach. Humanity-centered design, as he explains, encompasses not only humans but all living things and the entire environment that impacts us. By broadening the focus, designers are encouraged to think about how their creations affect all life, including flora, fauna, and natural ecosystems. HCD reminds us that truly “human-centered” solutions also safeguard the well-being of the natural world that supports human life.

Flawed Assumptions in Traditional Economic Solutions

Norman critiques the economic principles often used to approach sustainability, stating that they’re based on flawed assumptions about human behavior. Economists often view people as logical actors who make sensible choices, but Norman emphasizes that people are not purely logical. This disconnect can lead to ineffective strategies that do not resonate with real human behavior. For example, a digital sustainability approach may assume users will minimize energy use for economic reasons, yet many do not unless prompted by design. Understanding human unpredictability can help designers create solutions that fit real-world habits, such as software that automatically shifts to energy-saving modes or apps that encourage sustainable habits through subtle prompts.

The Role of Designers and the Need for Empowerment

Designers, Norman argues, often lack decision-making power and are constrained by client demands or executive decisions. He points out that while engineers frequently rise to executive positions by pursuing additional qualifications, designers rarely take this route. Norman challenges designers to pursue leadership roles actively so they can advocate for sustainable practices at decision-making levels. By taking on responsibilities that go beyond traditional design roles, designers can gain the influence needed to make a difference.

Designers as Integrators of Knowledge

Norman views designers not as content specialists but as methodical thinkers who can tackle a wide variety of problems. He describes designers as generalists who can bridge gaps between specialties, bringing together insights from environmental science, economics, engineering, and more. Designers’ integrative skills allow them to assemble these diverse elements into cohesive, sustainable solutions.

Lessons Learned

  • Embrace Curiosity: A sustainable design approach thrives on a curious mindset. By questioning current practices, designers can uncover new methods and technologies that reduce environmental impact.
  • Reimagine Sustainability: Go beyond maintaining the status quo. Digital sustainability efforts should aim for positive environmental impacts, such as reducing resource use or creating longer-lasting products.
  • Adopt a Humanity-Centered Design Approach: Consider the broader ecosystem in design choices. Digital tools, for instance, should prioritize low energy consumption, minimal waste, and non-toxic materials.
  • Challenge Economic Assumptions: Recognize that user behavior is not always logical. Effective sustainable design aligns with real-world habits, encouraging users to adopt eco-friendly practices in ways that feel natural.
  • Take on Leadership Roles: Designers have unique problem-solving skills but need to pursue leadership opportunities to effect change. By influencing decision-making, they can prioritize sustainability in digital innovation.
Links

The Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/suxpodcast/episodes/SUX-EP-13—Changing-design-towards-a-better-world-with-Don-Norman-e2gococ

SUX: https://sustainableuxnetwork.com

Don Norman. Design for a Better World: https://jnd.org/books/design-for-a-better-world/

by mert.altinoez -

09 | Digital Sustainability: People, Books and Communities 🌱

In this blog post, I want to share all the people, books and communities that inspired me during my research about Digital Sustainability. Without further ado, let’s get started.

People

Thorsten Jonas
is the person that got me into Digital Sustainability one year ago. He is an Sustainable UX Advocate and Keynote Speaker based out of Hamburg, Germany. At the beginning of 2021, he started the global non-profit community „SUX – the Sustainable UX Network“ with an international group of designers, to push Sustainable UX further for and with the digital creative community.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thorstenjonas/

Don Norman
is founding Director of The Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego. He is co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group (now retired), a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and former Vice President of Apple. His latest work expands the notion of being human-centered to consider the impact upon the environment, upon all cultures, and upon quality of life: Humanity centered.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnorman/

Tim Frick
is the founder and president of Mightybytes, Inc., a Chicago-based digital agency that helps social enterprises, sustainable brands, and large nonprofits solve problems and meet business and marketing goals. He has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and environmentalist, and is passionate about using business as a force for good in the world.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfrick/

Gerry McGovern
is the founder and CEO of Customer Carewords. He is a highly-regarded speaker, he has spoken on digital customer experience in more than 35 countries and has written eight books about digital design. The Irish Times has described Gerry as one of five visionaries who have had a major impact on the development of the Web.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerry-mcgovern-07876469/

Books

Designing for Sustainability. A guide to building greener digital products & services.
By Tim Frick

„Pixels use electricity, and a lot of it. If the Internet were a country, it would be the sixth largest in terms of electricity use. That’s because today’s average web page has surpassed two megabytes in size, leading to slow load times, frustrated users, and a lot of wasted energy. With this practical guide, your web design team will learn how to apply sustainability principles for creating speedy, user-friendly, and energy-efficient digital products and services. Author Tim Frick introduces a web design framework that focuses on four key areas where these principles can make a difference: content strategy, performance optimization, design and user experience, and green hosting. You’ll discover how to provide users with a streamlined experience, while reducing the environmental impact of your products and services.“

https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/designing-for-sustainability/9781491935767/

World Wide Waste. How digital is killing our planet – And what we can do about it.
By Gerry McGovern

“Deep in the throes of the seemingly unstoppable growth of tech, a modern-day Thoreau has emerged in the guise of Gerry McGovern – decrying the massive, hidden negative impacts of tech on the environment. Every age needs contrarians who will speak about the unpopular topics that we choose to accept or simply ignore. Before it is too late – and in fact it might already be – McGovern has thoroughly documented in the World Wide Waste how tech damages the earth – and what we should be doing about it. It goes far beyond those acres of discarded computer hardware conveniently dumped in Third World countries.”

https://gerrymcgovern.com/books/world-wide-waste/

Design for a Better World. Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered.
By Don Norman

“The world is a mess. Our dire predicament, from collapsing social structures to the climate crisis, has been millennia in the making and can be tracked back to the erroneous belief that the earth’s resources are infinite. The key to change, says Don Norman, is human behavior, covered in the books three major themes: meaning, sustainability, and humanity centeredness. Emphasize quality of life, not monetary rewards; restructure how we live to better protect the environment; and focus on all of humanity. Design for a Better World presents an eye opening diagnosis of where we’ve gone wrong and a clear prescription of making things better.”

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262548304/design-for-a-better-world/

The Life-Centred Design Guide. Design strategies and tools supporting a thriving planet for all.
By Damien Lutz

“Life-centric design aligns responsible businesses and designers with global goals to design physical and digital products and services that renourish the planet and foster fair and diverse ways of being. Life centered design still emerging, however, so awareness of it is low, those who practice it are few, how it is practiced varies, and hybridization of physical and digital product design strategies is nascent. The Life-Centered Design Guide introduces a collection of today’s life-centered design approaches and speculates a future snapshot of what the framework might become if the variations merged.”

https://lifecentred.design/the-life-centred-design-guide/

Communities

The Sustainable UX Network
“SUX was founded 2021 by a group of designers led by Thorsten Jonas with the idea to develop a playbook, to drive sustainability in UX and through UX, based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN and non-profit – for the community and with the community. Meanwhile SUX grew from a project to an ongoing initiative and global community of (UX-)designers from all over the world.”

Website: https://sustainableuxnetwork.com
Notion: https://suxnetwork.notion.site
Slack: https://sustainable-ux.slack.com

Sustainable Web Design Community Group
“This group is creating guidelines, tools, and resources for web and digital professionals to incorporate sustainability and related principles into their workflows and work practices. The goal is to make the process of creating and managing the entire life cycle of digital products and services more sustainable, while the use of digital products should also encourage better practices for users.”

Website: https://sustainablewebdesign.org
W3C Community Group: https://www.w3.org/community/sustyweb/
GitHub: https://github.com/w3c/sustyweb

This is it (for now). I hope you check out some of the people, books and/or communities.
Cheers!