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Sustainability in UI design
Green practices for a digital world.
When we think of sustainability, we often picture things like reducing plastic waste, driving electric cars, or cutting down on energy use in our homes. But what about the digital world? It’s easy to forget that the apps and websites we use every day also have an environmental impact. As someone who’s passionate about design and technology, I’ve been thinking a lot about how UI (user interface) design can play a role in creating a more sustainable future.
It might sound surprising at first — after all, UI design doesn’t involve factories or shipping products across the globe. But the truth is, the way we design digital experiences can significantly influence energy consumption and even user behavior. With climate change becoming an ever-pressing issue, it’s time for designers to step up and embrace sustainability as part of their craft.
Why sustainability matters in UI design
Let’s start with the basics: why does sustainability even matter in UI design? Isn’t it just about making things look good and work well? Well, not quite. Every time you load a webpage, stream a video, or use an app, data is being sent back and forth between your device and servers. These servers — housed in massive data centers — consume huge amounts of electricity. In fact, data…
