2.3 Integrate sustainability into every stage of the ideation process

Optimize materials created at every stage of the process and consider the needs of and impact on the planet, and other affected parties.

Sustainable brand development:
Optimize all branding materials and assets approved during the ideation process in line with sustainability best practices prior to and on an ongoing basis after deployment. Where provided, brand guidelines must also detail the sustainability impact and best-practice deployment of materials and assets.
Wireframes and prototypes:
Use wireframes and rapid prototyping to quickly build consensus, reduce risk, and reduce the number of resources needed to build features.
Participation and testing:
Use the participatory design approach to involve users within the iteration and design process. When conducting user testing, reach out to your community to help improve your product. Provide opportunities for users to apply their knowledge and experience to your product or service.
Environmental ideation:
Consider planetary needs and the environmental boundaries during the ideation phase. This can include creating non-user, non-human (animal, planet) personas, or climate-specific user stories and sprints.

Accessibility
Understanding real-world accessibility requirements in the early development stages makes it possible to prioritize inclusive design throughout the entire lifecycle. This improves efficiency, as developers will not be prompted to add in accessibility later. It will also reduce emissions associated with the patching process.
Conversion
Testing user interfaces usually leads to improved conversion rates as they can be optimized accordingly. This includes removing anything that causes friction and designing content in a way that optimizes user flow, reducing emissions while maximizing conversion.
Economic
Incorporating wireframes, prototypes, and user testing into early product design cycles reduces money and effort otherwise wasted building features people will not use.
Environment
Helping key contributors to better understand the environmental impact makes it possible to track and reduce that impact throughout the lifecycle of a project.
Social Equity
Accounting for the needs of users who might otherwise face various barriers to accessing content – on such as older devices, in low-bandwidth environments, or have other barriers to accessing information early in the process will reduce the need for costly redesigns or adding appropriate alternatives at a later date.