Applying the principles of permaculture for a more sustainable design ethos
As we try to live in more ecologically conscious ways, the digital sphere becomes increasingly interwoven with our physical surroundings. Sustainable tech is still but a seed sown, and not quite nurtured to scale with our environmental footprint.
You may have heard of permaculture as a guiding principle and approach for creating sustainable design systems. Its grounded ethos emphasises working with nature, rather than against it, as is unfortunately more common these days. Though we keep leaving a damaging environmental footprint in the wake of our growing needs and demands, perhaps the founders of permaculture, Mollison and Holmgren, can inspire us in novel ways.
The origins of permaculture
A conjugation of the words permanent and culture, permaculture was originally aimed at agricultural practices. Over time, the tactics and methods of this framework matured and extended to cover multiple (mostly physical) domains, even seemingly far-fetched from its origins.
Some areas where its strategies can be employed include:
- in architecture, city planning, engineering, and landscape design;
- in the production of textiles, clothing, and footwear;
- in the restoration of degraded ecosystems;
- and in the development of community projects.
Even in a more digitalised climate, by considering its principles, the underlying philosophy can be put to good use, including in UX. It can help seek out design ideas for products that are energy-efficient and generate sustainable life cycles, or simply reconsider current methods that could do with a fresh approach.
Core ethics and design principles
Permaculture relies on three core ethics that shape the design of any system, namely: care for the earth, care of people, and fair share (also referred to as future care).
It is a design philosophy based on the notion that we can create systems that mimic the natural world, using examples such as recycling, composting, and ecological succession (i.e. natural evolution). There are twelve design principles that act as a toolkit of techniques and strategies to identify solutions.
1) Observe and interact.
The first step in permaculture is to observe and interact with your environment. This translates into getting to know the patterns and processes of the natural world, so that you can work in sync, rather than being in conflict with your surroundings.
“With appropriate observation and interaction, we realise that nowhere is a blank slate for our designs.”- David Holmgren
The case for UX: This principle can be considered an almost all too obvious analogy for most things UX-related. By studying users’ behaviours and interactions, designers can gauge what improvements can be made, so the product works with the user rather than disrupting the flow and experience.
Research in general comes into the picture here as you try to weed out what doesn’t quite work or build on what shows potential. Consider usability testing as one of the examples where this principle can flourish.
2) Catch and store energy.
One of the keys to sustainability is to catch and store energy when it is abundant, so that it can be used when it is scarce. Identifying and acting on opportunities where we can take advantage of surplus and deploy it to more deprived areas is the heart of this principle.
The case for UX: Feedback can be utilised as a mild nudge towards mindfulness in our approaches. If it makes sense in the case of your product to include snippets of information on users’ actions and how their environmental impact measures up against others, these can serve as a gentle clue.
Need more context? Here’s an example. We might be getting into the weeds here, but a 2015 meta-analysis found that most people are at least partially unaware of the relationship between their behaviours and their energy usage. By providing feedback on their impact, energy consumption can be mitigated due to a subdued underlying education being offered within the general context of your product. Though this might not work for all types of offerings (and in most cases, we are desperate to keep people hooked), it’s something worth investigating where it seems sensible.
3) Obtain a yield.
Every permaculture system should provide a yield according to this principle — whether it’s food, fuel, or something else. This ensures that the system is productive, self-sufficient, and capable of survival.
The case for UX: If looking through the lens of business, this could simply imply gaining profit. This in itself is a fair goal if we are looking at the product’s own sustainability, but we can dig a bit further by pulling apart what we consider our target exactly.
Are you after more users? Better ratings? Some societal impact? All of these are more or less interwoven (and can most likely lead to more profit in the end), but they approach the concept of “yield” from a different perspective. Overall, product sustainability involves trying to herd in economical benefits to companies whilst also providing social and environmental improvements on a similar scale.
4) Apply self-regulation and accept feedback.
Permaculture systems are designed to regulate themselves and to provide feedback. This means that they are constantly evolving and improving over time.
“Design should not be generated in isolation, but through continuous and reciprocal interaction with the subject.” — David Holmgren
The case for UX: Being able to stay on track while designing or improving a product, but also being open to constructive criticism can be challenging, yet necessary. Though it can be difficult to always take feedback in stride, by taking it on board, you can create a more considerate product that will fuel its success.
Feedback is a critical part of the design process, and it’s important to ensure that it’s incorporated effectively into your user experience. Some ways to go about this could be:
- Making sure you have a feedback mechanism in place. This could be as simple as a form on your website or app, or a dedicated customer support team that users can contact.
- Encouraging feedback from your users. Let them know that you’re open to hearing their suggestions and critiques. Don’t just say it; mean it.
- Collecting feedback regularly. Set up a system for gathering insights on a routine basis, so you can keep track of what users are saying and identify any patterns.
- Taking some time to analyse the comments you receive, so you can understand what users are asking for and what they’re struggling with.
5) Use and value renewable resources and services.
Renewable resources are those that can be replenished, such as solar energy, wind energy, and water. Clearly, these should be used in a way that preserves them for future generations, and permaculture echoes this concept.
The case for UX: When creating a user experience, it’s important to employ reusable elements where possible. This can help to keep your design consistent and predictable for users, whilst also making it easier to update and maintain.
Here are a few tips on how to do this:
- Use common patterns. When creating your designs, make use of common interface patterns that users are already familiar with. Tapping into existing mental models will make it easier for them to understand how to use your app, website or other product.
- Templates can be a great way to rehash universal design elements across different screens or interfaces. They can also help ensure consistency in your layout.
- A style guide can be a great way to define the look and feel of your designs, as well as the fonts, colours, and other elements that you want to use. This can help to ensure that all of your designs are homogenous and look like they belong together.
6) Produce no waste.
Waste is anything that is not being used to its fullest potential or discarded without thought. Permaculture emphasises care for material goods, and waste is seen as a resource that can be reused or recycled. In this case, the former is deemed the more ideal solution as it requires no additional energy input to repurpose or reshape the existing material.
“This linear model needs to be replaced with a circular model to recycle essential materials in the way that nature does.” — David Holmgren
The case for UX: In order to minimalise scraps, we must think about the entire life cycle of a product. Some guiding questions can be:
- Where does this product come from?
- Where does it go when it’s done being used?
- What resources were used to make it?
- Can it be reused or recycled?
By considering these points, we can begin to form an idea of how best to reduce the amount of waste produced (also in terms of time, efficiency, etc.), already from the project’s grassroots.
7) Design from patterns to details.
One of the things that makes permaculture design thoughtful is its use of patterns that can be found in nature, and these are often repeated in society, as well. Rather than focusing on over-complicating details from the start, it advocates looking at simple systems that already work, and evolving from there.
The case for UX: Designing from patterns to details starts with understanding those that exist in the overall UX environment of the product. These can be discovered, for example, through user research, such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing.
Once patterns are clarified, the next step is to determine the details of how they should be implemented. This can be achieved via task analysis, design prototypes, and further testing. By taking a holistic approach to creating user experiences, we can employ pattern recognition for sensible interventions and improvements where needed.
8) Integrate rather than segregate.
Permaculture systems are designed to be integrated, so that each element supports and serves all others in a functional tandem. It stands in contrast to conventional systems, which tend to be divided and independent as a default strategy.
The case for UX: When it comes to UX design, this means bringing together the different aspects of the design process to create a cohesive and user-friendly product (rather than inviting conflict and unnecessary complexity).
This can be done in a number of ways, but some approaches include:
- Considering all aspects of the user experience when designing your product — from how it looks to how it functions.
- Using feedback from users to continue improving your product’s UX.
- Always being open to new ideas and approaches in order to keep your product’s UX fresh and up-to-date.
- Working together with other designers, developers, and stakeholders to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.
By reaching for a user-centred design process that takes into account their needs at every stage, you end up creating a product that not only serves its intended purpose but also ensures you are not barking up the wrong tree.
9) Use small and slow solutions.
The idea here is that small-scale solutions are more energy-efficient and easier to maintain than large-scale ones. To boot, they usually happen to have a lighter footprint on the environment.
The case for UX: Fear not, this message does not advocate implementing longer wait times and creating complicated processes. This would cause users to abandon your product, which is rather suboptimal. Instead, this philosophy can be applied to various aspects of product design, from the user interface to the overall functionality.
For example, in terms of the user interface, designers should aim to create a simple, intuitive and straightforward experience that is effectively second nature to whoever uses the product. Users should never feel lost or confused while engaging with it, and the same goes for functionality.
10) Use and value diversity.
Diversity is essential for a healthy ecosystem. Its role in nature is dynamic and at times seemingly contradictory, but this is all part of a careful balancing act.
The case for UX: One of the benefits of diversity in social settings is that it can help to create a more welcoming environment, foster collaboration and cater to a wider audience. When everyone feels like they can be themselves and share their unique perspectives, it can lead to a more enriching team or user experience, as well.
Whether in a work setting or when considering your personas, diversity can serve to produce more innovative and effective designs. Different cultures and backgrounds can bring a vast array of perspectives to the table, and this should be valued.
11) Use edges and value the marginal.
In permaculture, the edges of a system are often the most productive and diverse parts. This is because they contain a variety of microclimates and habitats that connect rather than divide. Though this all rings true, it’s one of the more challenging parts to integrate into different areas.
The case for UX: For example, edge cases in UX can be difficult to pinpoint or accommodate, since they tend to fall outside of the user’s expected or more common behaviour. Designing for these sorts of interactions can be a challenge, since there’s often no perfect solution or it involves an imbalanced trade-off (i.e. the time involved to address it might not be worth the cost).
This makes “edges” both quite important and worrying at the same time, so designers need to be very careful about how they guide users, and how they allow interaction with the system. Whilst you may choose to discard edge cases entirely, it is probably best to at least be aware of them, as there may be some value or untapped potential underneath the surface.
12) Creatively use and respond to change.
Permaculture systems are constantly evolving, in response to the changing needs of the people and the environment. Structures must be flexible and adaptable, allowing room for iterations, in order to keep pace.
“This principle has two threads: designing to make use of change in a deliberate and co-operative way, and creatively responding or adapting to large-scale system change which is beyond our control or influence.” — David Holmgren
The case for UX: Creative ways to use and work with change include being aware of shifts in the environment and constantly adjusting your plans as needed. Paying attention to what is happening around you will help you identify opportunities to be addressed or problems requiring some quick weeding-out.
Another way to respond to change is by being open to new ideas. When something new comes along, don’t be afraid to try it out. You never know what might work better than what you’re currently doing. Be willing to experiment and test new things.
Staying grounded
On one end of the spectrum, there is a growing impatience around the need to act on and remedy our destructive tendencies. To quote Thomas Dyllick and Zoe Rost from their 2017 research, “a product demonstrating some incremental ecological or social improvements does not deserve the designation “sustainable”.”
Their message is that rather than brandishing it as a fashionable feature of some sort, ideally more thought should be put into long-term environmental concerns for your product to truly become impactful in this quest.
All this being said, making a 180-degree turn will not happen overnight. Let’s applaud even minor adjustments which take us a step closer towards more sustainable approaches, shall we?
References & Credits
- The Basics: What is permaculture? by Permaculture Association
- Essence of Permaculture
- Dyllick, T., & Rost, Z. (2017). Towards true product sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, 346–360.
- Egan, C., & Benyon, D. (2017, June). Sustainable HCI: Blending permaculture and user-experience. In Proceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference Companion Publication on Designing Interactive Systems (pp. 39–43).
- Holmgren, D., & Mollison, B. (1978). Permaculture one. International Tree Crop Institute USA.
- Karlin, B., Zinger, J. F., & Ford, R. (2015). The effects of feedback on energy conservation: A meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 141(6), 1205.
- Images by storyset on Freepik
