What do sustainability and interaction design have to do with each other? Interaction design is a powerful tool to approach the subject of behavior change. Affordances, captology, interaction - all of these elements create a platform for engagement with the user.
We believe some of the most inspirational and forward-thinking cases of green design interact with the user to teach about environmental impacts, and tell the product backstory.
Our favorite examples:
1. Prius Dashboard
The Prius Dashboard interface teaches you how to optimize your fuel economy.
2. The Wattson
The Wattson gives a house-level read on power consumption.
3. Background Stories a Dutch student project tells the secret backstory of chocolate.
4. Tiffany Holmes 7000 Oaks and Counting. Takes building environmental performance data out of the control room and into the public eye.
5. Greenplug
A universal power adapter that "talks" to gadgets to determine their energy need.
Our favorite book on the subject: Shaping Things by Bruce Sterling.
If you have other examples, or wish to debate our selection send them this way!
