Design Patterns for Behaviour Change: A Toolkit for Intentional Design

Why It Matters

This approach moves beyond simply creating functional objects to actively shaping user behaviour. By providing designers with a framework of established patterns, it enables more systematic and effective integration of behaviour change principles into the design process, leading to products that are not only desirable but also beneficial.

Key Finding

A toolkit of design patterns can help designers deliberately create products that encourage users to adopt more environmentally friendly and socially conscious behaviours.

Key Findings

• A structured collection of design patterns can effectively guide designers in creating products that encourage specific behaviours.
• Intentional design using behaviour change patterns can lead to measurable shifts in user actions related to environmental and social impact.
• The toolkit provides a shared language and framework for discussing and implementing behaviour change strategies in design.

Research Evidence

Aim: To develop and evaluate a toolkit of design patterns that can be used by designers to intentionally influence user behaviour towards more sustainable and socially responsible outcomes.

Method: Development and application of a design pattern toolkit.

Procedure: The research involved identifying, categorizing, and documenting a set of design patterns that have been observed to influence user behaviour. These patterns were then compiled into a toolkit, which was subsequently tested and refined through application in design projects.

Context: Product and service design, behaviour change interventions, sustainable design.

Design Principle

Design interventions should be intentional and leverage established patterns to effectively influence user behaviour for positive societal impact.

How to Apply

When designing a new product or service, consult a behaviour change design pattern toolkit to identify relevant patterns that can encourage users to, for example, conserve energy, reduce waste, or engage in community initiatives.

Limitations

The effectiveness of specific patterns may vary depending on the target audience, cultural context, and the specific design problem.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Think of design patterns like recipes. This research created a recipe book for designers to make products that help people do good things for the environment or society on purpose.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to intentionally influence user behaviour is crucial for creating designs that have a positive impact beyond just aesthetics or basic function.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can design patterns alone drive significant behaviour change, or are they merely facilitators for deeper psychological or societal shifts?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This design project draws upon the principles of intentional design for behaviour change, as outlined by Lockton (2013). The research highlights the utility of design pattern toolkits in guiding the creation of products and services that promote positive environmental and social actions. By adopting a pattern-based approach, this design aims to systematically encourage users towards more sustainable practices.

Project Tips

• When exploring behaviour change, look for existing design patterns that have been proven effective.
• Consider how your design can nudge users towards more sustainable or socially beneficial actions.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this research when discussing the theoretical basis for your chosen design strategies aimed at behaviour change.
• Use the concept of design patterns to justify the inclusion of specific features or user interface elements in your design proposal.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of how design can be used as a tool for social and environmental good.
• Clearly articulate the behaviour change strategies employed in your design and their theoretical underpinnings.

Independent Variable: Presence and application of specific behaviour change design patterns.

Dependent Variable: User behaviour related to environmental or social actions.

Controlled Variables: User demographics, cultural context, existing user habits, overall product/service usability.

Strengths

• Provides a structured and actionable framework for designers.
• Focuses on intentionality, moving beyond passive design.

Critical Questions

• How can the effectiveness of these patterns be rigorously measured in diverse contexts?
• What are the ethical considerations when intentionally designing to influence behaviour?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the efficacy of a specific behaviour change design pattern in a particular cultural context through a comparative study.
• Develop a novel design pattern for a currently underserved area of behaviour change (e.g., digital well-being).

Source

Design with intent : a design pattern toolkit for environmental and social behaviour change · Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) · 2013