First Advisor

Briar Levit

Date of Award

Spring 5-31-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Graphic Design and University Honors

Department

Art + Design

Language

English

Subjects

Big Data, Digital Management/Tracking Tools, productivity, efficiency, UI/UX

DOI

10.15760/honors.1567

Abstract

This paper examines the growing toxic culture of centering productivity and efficiency in the growth of Big Data-incentivized digital management/tracking tools. In response to the development of personal notetaking tools, mood tracker apps, habit tracking, and other personal data tracking programs, discourse from data scientists, interactive designers, archivists, and technology academics have critiqued how well-meaning the larger tech industry is by providing these tools. However, the current discourse on developing potential solutions to this issue remains understudied as the growth of said tools are fairly new. This paper proposes that digital interfaces employ approaches with users' personal data that center user autonomy, and that designing with the intention for users to rekindle their sense of connection to the world and themselves can steer us away from just centering maximum efficiency. This paper is led by past conclusions by scholars studying how UI/UX principles of these tools value data extraction over productivity, users engaged in these tools have deteriorated mental health, and future tech designed for reflection can aid in user self-discovery.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42169

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