Coping with user diversity: UX informs the design of a digital interface that encourages sustainable behaviour

Abstract

Human factors play a key role on the improvement of energy efficiency at the workplace. However, to mitigate this recurrent issue most of the approaches rely on ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions which the literature on HCI evidenced that ails addressing the user diversity in office environments. Therefore, this paper emphasises on the relevance of boosting the User Centered Design (UCD) and enriching the User Experience (UX) as pivotal means to enhance the user engagement on digital interfaces that promote sustainable behaviour at work. To accomplish this goal, a digital interface that offers a range of strategies and functions directed to the different user archetypes (user diversity) has been designed and evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysed data shed light on the relevance of enhance the UX to design positive interactions which is a predictor of future system usage and engagement. The diversity of users and the impact of the UCD on the Design for Sustainable Behaviour are discussed throughout the paper. Besides, we propose future lines of work on designing digital systems able to adapt dynamically to user profiles during its usage.