Towards Supporting Sustainable Grocery Shopping through Joyful Technology: Annotated Portfolio of Speculative Ideas

TL;DR

This paper explores how designing joyful technology can motivate sustainable grocery shopping by presenting speculative ideas that emphasize joy as a key factor in encouraging eco-friendly food choices.

Contribution

It introduces an annotated portfolio of speculative design ideas focused on integrating joy into sustainability communication for food choices, inspiring HCI research and design.

Findings

Joyful design can positively influence sustainable food choices

Speculative ideas highlight interaction mechanisms that evoke joy and sustainability

Reframing sustainability through joy can reduce eco-anxiety and motivate change

Abstract

A third of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the food sector. A shift in dietary habits could reduce these by half. Engaging and empowering consumers is vital to this critical shift; yet, if we get the framing wrong, we might cause distress or eco-anxiety, impeding initial engagement as well as longer-term diet change. Evoking joy is a powerful yet under-explored motivator to overcome psychological barriers and support pro-environmental attitudes. This pictorial presents the outcomes of a one-day workshop as a series of speculative ideas in the form of an annotated portfolio, highlighting design qualities and interaction mechanisms that afford joy and sustainability in food choices. Our contribution will inspire HCI researchers and designers to reposition joy as a fundamental value to sustainability communication