5 UX pitfalls in designing environmental impact measurement solutions

We don’t need more environmental data; we need more people to act upon it.

Designing actionable data solutions is one way impact entrepreneurs, designers and product managers can help. To drive real-world impact, dashboards, Lifecycle analysis tools, MRV, or reporting solutions need to be intuitive, actionable, and suited to the needs of diverse users.

Here are five common design pitfalls and how to avoid them. 

Asking too much or too complex input data from end-users 

Requesting highly detailed or technical input from users can create friction, reduce data quality, and lead to drop-off. In one LCA project we worked on, footwear designers were asked to provide complex information about product materials and supply chains, which proved overwhelming. Another problematic data input process could be seen on a corporate carbon accounting software company. It used a well-designed form to collect data from employees on food, home office, and commuting but relied on a separate spreadsheet for business travel.  

In both examples, these design flaws led to lower completion rates and poor data quality.  

Solution: For the LCA project, we conducted user research and testing to simplify language and reduce the number of required inputs. This, together with a clear navigation and progress bar, improved data quality and user engagement. In the carbon accounting case, introducing a consistent, user-friendly digital interface for all data categories increased completion rates and ensured better-quality data across the board.  

Fig 1- Design of a step-by-step data collection process of a Life cycle analysis tool for footwear designers

Burying decision makers under complex data

Although technology is better in capturing and interpreting environmental data, it often fails to lead to meaningful action. If we take the example of a complex ecosystem such as a City, the volume and complexity of data local governments have to deal with to make decisions on decarbonisation can lead to analysis paralysis.  

Solution:  Everimpact addressed this by developing the first-ever real-time CO₂ monitoring system for Cities, focused on Scope 1 emissions. Their solution sounded too good to be true until city managers saw a simple map-based dashboard that displayed emissions as a heatmap overlaid on the city. The data visualisation was simplified and structured around emission sources - buildings, green spaces, and transport. This empowered city managers to understand where emissions came from and analyise, in real time, the impact of their decarbonisation policies. On top of the map view, which was the killer features, we designed other pages with more granular data. 

Fig 2- Everimpact's live city emissions dashboard

Missing the "so what" associated with the data

Providing clear data on specific environmental issues without offering guidance on mitigation or adaptation often delays or hinders action. 

Solution: 

To prompt action, data platforms should go beyond reporting and help users understand what to do next. This can include offering proven mitigation or adaptation strategies based on similar use cases, or showcasing how peers have addressed comparable challenges.

For instance, the city of Amsterdam uses automated insights from its air quality sensors and Project Air View to generate policy suggestions. These suggestions inform traffic flow changes on high-pollution days, helping the city take timely and informed action. 

Designing only for sustainability professionals

Sustainability managers are often the champions or early adopters of environmental innovations. However, they are rarely the sole decision-makers involved in the purchase decision or the primary users. Limiting research and testing to this persona can overlook important operational, financial, and strategic constraints and opportunities. Consequently, solutions may become impractical, challenging to market, or difficult to scale. 

Solution: To create effective and appealing solutions, it is essential to include a wide range of stakeholders in the research and design process. Design -and marketing- should engage with key stakeholders such as operations, finance, and board members to understand the broader ecosystem around the product. This approach supports the creation of more holistic solutions that consider diverse needs and barriers, resulting in products that are user-friendly, environmentally impactful and can reach product-market fit faster. 

Designing with a carbon tunnel vision

Focusing solely on carbon as a performance indicator can oversimplify the environmental picture. While CO2 is measurable and a widely adopted data point, focusing on it alone can lead to narrow strategies that ignore the broader, interconnected nature of the planetary crisis. This single-metric mindset often fails to address deeper systemic issues or unintended consequences.

Solution: To drive meaningful impact, organisations should adopt a systems-thinking approach that considers multiple environmental factors and their interdependencies. By visualising these relationships, stakeholders can make more informed and balanced decisions. For example, in our work with Everimpact, we designed forest monitoring dashboards supporting regenerative forestry practices. The visualisations included net carbon sequestration, tree species, carbon credit valuation, and biomass levels. A forecasting tool based on long-term IPCC climate scenarios helped forest managers understand how these factors evolve and interact, supporting more effective long-term planning and resource management. 

Fig 3- Everimpact forest monitoring dashboard was designed to combine insight on net carbon sequestration, tree species, carbon credit valuation, and biomass levels, and include long-term climate scenarios

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