While digital products may not always be physically tangible, they consume a lot of energy. With around 4.1 billion internet users across the globe, the web emits approximately 3.7% of carbon emissions – and our hunger for AI and data is exacerbating this daily.
It’s important that designers and developers think carefully when designing apps and websites to limit the impact the internet has on our planet. At Zudu, we believe in following sustainable UI and UX principles to limit our carbon footprint. Read on for our guide to sustainable UI/UX design and how you can design with the planet in mind.
Sustainable UI/UX design is about creating digital products with a focus on minimising environmental impact. This can be done through a number of methods like optimising resource usage, reducing energy consumption, and designing with longevity in mind. Sustainable design isn’t exclusive to UI/UX and increasingly plays a role across a wide array of industries, such as construction, fashion and transportation.
The main principles of eco-conscious design are:
To reduce energy efficiency in UI/UX design, a rule of thumb is to consider design interactions that require fewer server requests and less intensive data transfer and processing. Some of the ways you can do this, include:
Optimising design elements is one of the simplest ways to reduce energy when designing apps and websites. Animations and high-resolution images can often be energy intensive so using smaller image sizes and compressing files without compromising quality is key. Leveraging smaller formats where applicable can also help with this.
Lazy loading is a technique that delays loading images or videos until they are needed and visible on screen. It’s commonly used to improve performance and user experience, but it also can help reduce energy consumption in design. It’ a simple means of reducing energy while also enhancing usability.
Removing redundant content and elements that don’t add value can both minimise cognitive load and limit energy consumption helping improve overall user experience.
Maintaining a positive user experience plays a significant role in sustainable UI/UX design. It’s all about balancing environmental impact while ensuring your app or website is usable and accessible for your audience.
Opting for lighter and softer colour schemes as well as dark colour palettes can reduce energy consumption as it requires less screen energy. Additionally, offering users the option to switch to dark mode can cater for both accessibility, preference and energy efficiency as it can significantly reduce the amount of light emitted by screens. It’s important to ensure you are adhering to The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines when choosing colour schemes, so your app or website is accessible to those with a variety of needs.
Standard fonts that are pre-installed on most devices (think Arial or Calibri) reduce the need to load external font resources and reduce energy consumption. Not to mention, simple, lightweight fonts use less energy to render and are often easier for those with learning disabilities like dyslexia.
Minimalist designs use fewer images, animations and other unnecessary elements reducing the need for data transfer. This not only makes websites load faster but it reduces energy usage to open files and sites. Additionally, fewer pages and fewer words per page mean less strain on hard drives.
One of the key challenges in sustainable UI/UX design is balancing the energy efficiency of a product with its performance. For instance, reducing screen time consumes less energy, however, longer screen time is optimal for your app’s success. Finding the right balance can often take compromise and an innovative approach.
Google’s homepage uses a simple and minimalistic interface for fast-loading and lower energy consumption. Google also offers dark mode on many of its apps, reducing energy usage on OLED screens.
The Spotify app is simple and easy-to-navigate with minimal visual clutter, reducing processing power. It also offers optimised media streaming options to help conserve energy.
Patagonia’s website and app focus on clear, visually minimal interfaces directing users to products and content without unnecessary distractions. The site is fast and efficient, designed for quick loading and mobile responsiveness.
By integrating sustainability into UI/UX design, businesses can contribute to a more sustainable world. Ensuring that digital products contribute positively to environmental goals while maintaining functionality and user satisfaction is our priority at Zudu. Speak to one of the team to start planning your digital project and bring your ideas to life.
