Short answer

Integrate a curated set of behaviour change design patterns into your design process to intentionally guide user actions towards desired environmental and social outcomes.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) (2013)
Method: Development and application of a design pattern toolkit.
Evidence: Strong effect

A structured toolkit of design patterns can guide designers in intentionally creating products and services that promote positive environmental and social behaviour change. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2013 study published in Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London). Using Development and application of a design pattern toolkit., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate a curated set of behaviour change design patterns into your design process to intentionally guide user actions towards desired environmental and social outcomes.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Design Patterns for Behaviour Change: A Toolkit for Intentional Design

A structured toolkit of design patterns can guide designers in intentionally creating products and services that promote positive environmental and social behaviour change.

Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) · 2013

Key Findings

01A structured collection of design patterns can effectively guide designers in creating products that encourage specific behaviours.
02Intentional design using behaviour change patterns can lead to measurable shifts in user actions related to environmental and social impact.
03The toolkit provides a shared language and framework for discussing and implementing behaviour change strategies in design.

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate a curated set of behaviour change design patterns into your design process to intentionally guide user actions towards desired environmental and social outcomes.

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.

Project actions

01When exploring behaviour change, look for existing design patterns that have been proven effective.
02Consider how your design can nudge users towards more sustainable or socially beneficial actions.

Method & Evidence

AimTo 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.

MethodDevelopment and application of a design pattern toolkit.

ProcedureThe 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.

ContextProduct and service design, behaviour change interventions, sustainable design.

Variables

IVPresence and application of specific behaviour change design patterns.

DVUser behaviour related to environmental or social actions.

CVUser demographics, cultural context, existing user habits, overall product/service usability.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

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

Limitations

It can be challenging to isolate the effect of a single design pattern, as user behaviour is influenced by many factors.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be assessed by having multiple designers apply the same patterns to similar problems and comparing the outcomes. Validity would be assessed by measuring actual behaviour change in users exposed to designs incorporating these patterns.

Think critically

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

Design Principles

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

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.

What This Means for Your Design

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.

How to use in your project

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

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

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.

Source

Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London)

Design with intent : a design pattern toolkit for environmental and social behaviour change

journal · 2013

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about design patterns for behaviour change: a toolkit for intentional design?: Integrate a curated set of behaviour change design patterns into your design process to intentionally guide user actions towards desired environmental and social outcomes. Evidence: Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) (2013).
Why does "Design Patterns for Behaviour Change: A Toolkit for Intentional Design" matter for design?: 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.
How can designers apply this research?: Integrate a curated set of behaviour change design patterns into your design process to intentionally guide user actions towards desired environmental and social outcomes.
What were the main 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.
What research method was used?: Development and application of a design pattern toolkit..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2013 journal from Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London).
What should I do differently in my next project?: 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.
What are the limitations?: The effectiveness of specific patterns may vary depending on the target audience, cultural context, and the specific design problem.