Service Design Show The 'Trojan Horse' Strategy for Sustainable Service Design / James Chudley / Ep. #230
Jun 19, 2025
James Chudley, a seasoned professional and author specializing in sustainable service design, discusses the urgent need for sustainability in the industry. He highlights the environmental impact of both digital and physical services and shares strategies to integrate sustainable practices into day-to-day design. Chudley emphasizes the importance of defining sustainability and measuring its impact, while revealing a deceptively simple design principle that enhances sustainability. Listeners are inspired to make a positive impact for customers, businesses, and the planet.
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Defining Sustainable Service
- Sustainable service means meeting present user needs without compromising future needs or organizational longevity.
- It also encompasses minimizing environmental and societal harm, plus sustaining designers' mental energy for lasting impact.
Digital Services Are Unsustainable
- Most digital services are currently unsustainable due to hidden environmental impacts like high CO2 emissions.
- The digital world’s carbon footprint rivals aviation, urging urgent attention to digital sustainability.
Journey from Science to Sustainable UX
- James transitioned from environmental science to digital design after discovering joy in creating digital visuals and user experiences.
- He later combined his environmental knowledge and UX skills to focus on sustainable digital services.