Short answer
Integrate metrics of subjective wellbeing and its societal co-benefits into the design process to create more impactful and justifiable solutions.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- Social Indicators Research (2018)
- Method
- Literature Review and Valuation Method Analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Understanding and quantifying the co-benefits of subjective wellbeing can inform the design of interventions that yield broader societal advantages. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in Social Indicators Research. Using Literature review and valuation method analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate metrics of subjective wellbeing and its societal co-benefits into the design process to create more impactful and justifiable solutions.
Wellbeing as a Design Metric: Quantifying the Societal Value of Happiness
Understanding and quantifying the co-benefits of subjective wellbeing can inform the design of interventions that yield broader societal advantages.
Social Indicators Research · 2018
Key Findings
- 01Happiness and life satisfaction are empirically linked to improved health outcomes.
- 02Higher wellbeing correlates with better social outcomes, increased employment, and educational attainment.
- 03Wellbeing positively influences pro-environmental behaviours.
- 04Methods exist to assign monetary values to these wellbeing co-benefits.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate metrics of subjective wellbeing and its societal co-benefits into the design process to create more impactful and justifiable solutions.
How to apply
When designing a new product or service, consider how it might positively influence users' health, social interactions, or environmental actions, and explore ways to estimate the value of these impacts.
Project actions
- 01When defining project success, include metrics related to user happiness and its potential societal spillover effects.
- 02Research existing studies that link your design's intended user experience to broader social or environmental outcomes.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive review of existing empirical evidence.
- +Exploration of valuation methodologies for co-benefits.
Limitations
Quantifying the exact monetary value of wellbeing co-benefits can be challenging and may involve subjective assumptions.
Reliability & validity
The reliability and validity of the findings depend heavily on the quality and methodologies of the empirical studies reviewed. Valuation methods themselves may have varying degrees of reliability.
Think critically
To what extent can subjective wellbeing truly be quantified and monetized without losing its intrinsic value, and how might this influence design decisions?
Design Principles
"Design for holistic value: Consider and quantify the indirect societal benefits that accrue from enhancing user wellbeing."
This research highlights that design interventions aimed at improving user wellbeing can have far-reaching positive impacts beyond the immediate user experience. By considering these co-benefits, designers can create solutions that are not only user-centric but also contribute more significantly to societal progress and resource allocation.
What This Means for Your Design
Making people happier through design can also make society healthier, more successful, and greener, and we can put a price on these extra good things.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this paper when discussing the broader impact and justification of your design choices, particularly if your design aims to improve user wellbeing.
- 2.Use the findings to support claims about the potential societal benefits of your proposed solution.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Maccagnan et al. (2018) provides a framework for understanding and quantifying the co-benefits of subjective wellbeing, demonstrating empirical links between happiness and improved health, social outcomes, employment, education, and environmental behaviours. This highlights the potential for design interventions aimed at enhancing user wellbeing to yield significant broader societal and economic advantages, justifying their development and implementation through a lens of holistic value creation.
Source
Social Indicators Research
Wellbeing and Society: Towards Quantification of the Co-benefits of Wellbeing
journal · 2018
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about wellbeing as a design metric: quantifying the societal value of happiness?
- Integrate metrics of subjective wellbeing and its societal co-benefits into the design process to create more impactful and justifiable solutions. Evidence: Social Indicators Research (2018).
- Why does "Wellbeing as a Design Metric: Quantifying the Societal Value of Happiness" matter for design?
- This research highlights that design interventions aimed at improving user wellbeing can have far-reaching positive impacts beyond the immediate user experience. By considering these co-benefits, designers can create solutions that are not only user-centric but also contribute more significantly to societal progress and resource allocation.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate metrics of subjective wellbeing and its societal co-benefits into the design process to create more impactful and justifiable solutions.
- What were the main findings?
- Happiness and life satisfaction are empirically linked to improved health outcomes.. Higher wellbeing correlates with better social outcomes, increased employment, and educational attainment.. Wellbeing positively influences pro-environmental behaviours.. Methods exist to assign monetary values to these wellbeing co-benefits.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Valuation Method Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2018 journal from Social Indicators Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new product or service, consider how it might positively influence users' health, social interactions, or environmental actions, and explore ways to estimate the value of these impacts.
- What are the limitations?
- The paper focuses on existing literature and valuation methods, not on novel empirical data collection. The monetary valuation of wellbeing can be complex and may not capture all nuances.