Designing for people: how sustainable design can enhance well-being

In the world of design, where aesthetics often take center stage, it’s crucial to remember that great design extends far beyond visual appeal. Sustainable design, in particular, has emerged as a powerful force for enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities. In this post, we’ll delve into how sustainable design contributes to well-being through inclusivity and representation, accessibility, education, empowerment, and engagement, as well as transparency and storytelling.

Inclusivity and representation

Sustainable design is rooted in inclusivity and representation. In addition to making products or services visually appealing, it ensures that designs resonate with a diverse range of people. Inclusive design means considering every aspect of your audience, regardless of age, abilities, or ethnicity. It means celebrating differences and making everyone feel seen and valued.

Examples in action:

1. Aisle: Aisle reimagines period products with inclusivity in mind, and their commitment to representing diversity in their marketing empowers individuals of all gender identities and body types to feel accepted and understood.
2. Stocksy: Stocksy, a stock photo and video agency, is committed to inclusivity and representation through the media they provide. Their vast collection of photographs and videos features people of various ages, abilities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. By offering a diverse range of visuals, Stocksy empowers designers and content creators to represent the world authentically, fostering inclusivity in marketing and media.

Accessibility

Accessibility is another pillar of sustainable design that greatly impacts well-being. A design that’s accessible ensures that individuals with disabilities can access information, services, and products seamlessly. It removes barriers, both digital and physical, enabling a broader audience to engage with what you offer.

Examples in action:

1. Make it Accessible: Make it Accessible specializes in web accessibility, making websites inclusive for all users. Their work highlights how accessible design fosters well-being by providing equal access to online resources and information.
2. Accessible Employers Website: This project we worked on for the Presidents Group, in partnership with KunStudios, showcases iilo’s commitment to accessibility. Testing the website with people with different abilities was a key part of this project. Tester input helped our team truly understand how people with disabilities navigate websites, and allowed us to create a site that’s both interesting and accessible for site visitors using assistive technologies like screen readers.

Education, empowerment, and engagement

Sustainable design is a powerful tool for education and empowerment. Through thoughtful communication design, brands can educate users about their values and products, empowering them to make informed choices. Engaging design elements create a sense of connection and community, further enhancing well-being.

Examples in action:

1. Cheekbone Beauty: Cheekbone Beauty emphasizes representation and celebrates Indigenous beauty and culture through its makeup products and branding. Their approach to design not only promotes well-being, but also educates and raises awareness about Indigenous communities. Their approach empowers their customers to be part of a movement that extends beyond cosmetics.
2. Language for Life: This resource designed by iilo for the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) exemplifies how design can bridge cultural gaps. This project resulted in an informative, engaging, and easy-to-read 40-page resource that helped to give families the confidence to learn and use their Indigenous language, integrating it into their daily lives.

Transparency and storytelling

Transparency and storytelling in sustainable design contribute to well-being by nurturing empathy, creating a sense of belonging, increasing user engagement, building trust, and inspiring positive actions. These emotional and psychological benefits make sustainable design not only visually appealing but also deeply fulfilling for users, enriching their overall well-being.

Examples in action:

1. Salt Spring Coffee: Salt Spring Coffee is a prime example of how storytelling can enhance well-being. Through their brand, they share stories of sustainable coffee farming practices, the communities they support, and the positive impact their business has on the environment. By connecting consumers with the narratives behind their morning cup of coffee, Salt Spring Coffee fosters a sense of purpose and satisfaction, knowing that their choice supports ethical and sustainable practices.
2. Status of BC First Nations Languages: Since 2010, FPCC has published regular reports on the status of First Nations languages in BC. In these reports, iilo combined charts, infographics, and narratives to paint a rich picture of First Nations language speakers, learners, and resources. By merging data with stories, the reports encourage varied audiences to support language revitalization through advocacy, education, and policy development.

Sustainable design is a multifaceted approach that goes beyond aesthetics. It prioritizes inclusivity, accessibility, education, empowerment, and transparency. These principles work together to create designs that not only look good, but also enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.

As designers and businesses, let’s embrace sustainable design practices. By doing so, we can make a positive impact on the world, one well-designed experience at a time. If you’re looking for support on that journey, get in touch with us. We can explore how to do this together.