What role does Design play in the fast-paced society of today?
A speculative piece on the potential divergence between designing for user needs and societal efficiency.
I don’t think it has escaped anyone’s notice that we’re living in a high-paced society. We aim to measure, calculate, and evaluate everything that allows us to — so that we can optimize and streamline flows and processes to increase profit or upscale reach. Technology helps us to keep up with all of this. We design digital tools for users in need to structure and measure their everyday lives. And by doing so, we do them a favor. Don’t we?
We run as fast as the society does. Both in work and in private life. If not scalable, then not useful we say as we try to measure the impact of our family Christmas plan in t-shirt sizes.
At work, we optimize the team’s workflow — Is anyone blocked? Is our code deployment reaching the set goal? Then we go home and optimize our vacation — What destination will give the most value for the least cost? How can I get there quickly? etc etc… The sense of hurry and rush tends to find its way into everything we do in life. But unlike if it had been cold water droplets, suddenly trickling down along the inside of our clothes, it has not yet made us shudder.
Just as the economy needs to increase to stay stable, the people in society need to run faster and faster just to not fall behind. Or not to fall completely out of the tracks. So, we keep on doing — we keep on running.
In his book (among others) Alienation and Acceleration: Towards a Critical Theory of Late-modern Temporality[1], Hartmut Rosa, a professor of sociology and political science, describes an Acceleration society and a modern life that is speeding up. He brings up the paradox that even though we have all of these new gadgets and tech stuff that are supposed to save us time, it still feels like we’re constantly in a hurry and never have enough of just that — time.
The tech and digital tools are there to support the people rushing through the life marathon. Apps that help to optimize workouts and family schedules. Clocks and glasses that help to become productive and informed while (literally) running. Or internal management systems that help e.g. salespeople to make quicker on-point sales.
As a UX designer, I’ve always seen myself as the user’s advocate. A position I am proud to take. My aim is always to put the users, their needs, and values in the center.
Sadly, that is not always possible when working for companies who have not yet, for whatever reason, seen the true value of user-centered design. Decisions from upstairs management may say that features need to be developed at a certain pace, not leaving room for sufficient user research. So, we end up not knowing the true user value, stuck on the focus on delivering business value.
But what if you get to create designs that are emerging from user research as well? And you have findings telling you something about the users’ actual needs! Well, great!
But.
What do the users actually need? What do the people in our rapid society desire? They need tools that help them to perform more efficiently. To do more in less time, to plan, to keep up, and to fit in. But what does it mean, in the long run, to deliver on that?
I see people around me, working hard. They are high achievers, who aim to perform, who perform to fit in. Giving of themselves because they believe they will get it back at some point. But what often happens is that they run into the wall instead, not getting anything back but a decreased stress level, months on the sofa eating pre-prepped meals, and a hell of a long uphill to get back to some kind of normal. Maybe you know someone like this? Or maybe you recognize yourself?
As designers, we design the tools that these people need to fit into the hectic society we all have created for ourselves.
So? you might say. If this is what they need, then why the fuss? Well, I could argue that it is exactly what they need. But what does that matter if the game — the broader system, in which design takes place — is rigged? It is instead much more intriguing to argue that We design for the accelerated society’s needs. But through our users.
We design for this society to work efficiently. For it to work seamlessly and smoothly. For the workers to become cogs in the wheel. If one gets worn out, then just switch it out to a new one. As long as it all keeps turning, and the numbers are increasing, preferably also faster. But what if that point is reached, where we can say that if we’re lucky, our designs can push one cog to continue a bit longer? Just a bit longer.
Look at the Facebook-like button, that suddenly slipped into our lives. It has been shown to have a huge effect on the use of social media, connected to addiction and physical health issues. But aren’t we all working in the same ballpark, pushing the hamster wheel to spin faster, and forcing everyone (including ourselves) to run along?
So — what can designers do to slow down the wheel?
Could we start by slowing down our design deliveries, and ourselves? To practice UX design with more love and care, and take time to tap into the user’s true needs while listening to our own?
Let us imagine that the wheel suddenly stopped. Giving us a short break. A pause to use for reflection on our role in the progress of society. Designer or not, who are you creating value for in the long run? Humans, or highly efficient robots? Is it possible to do both, or are the values in the business world and the core values for humans moving too far apart from each other decreasing the common area of alignment?
Slow down. Reflect.
Soon the wheel will continue to turn again. Who will you be then?
[1]: Rosa, H. (2010). Alienation and Acceleration. NSU Press.
