Nudging Towards Less: Investigating How Interior-Based Design Nudges Influence Material Waste Reduction in Student Design Projects

Abstract

This research examines how interior-based nudges (visual, spatial and digital) affect and support the mitigation of waste in the interior design studio. While nudge theory has been most studied in public and institutional settings, its use in hands-on, creative, tool-intensive systems has not been widely examined in the UAE. To address this, at the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) at the University of Sharjah, a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was conducted to examine a nudge-enhanced design studio compared with a control or traditional studio. Both groups of students were given the same task and materials as part of a one-day model-making activity. They were thus provided with the necessary controlled environment to investigate waste generation, reuse and sorting. To triangulate the findings, nudge studies employed material flow analysis (MFA) and a combination of observational auditing and qualitative pre- and post-surveys. The results of the nudge study demonstrated that the design studio achieved a 21% reduction in total waste generation and a reuse efficiency of about 91%, with students relying on and drawing from on-site reusable materials rather than new stock. Further, the students displayed positive behavioural shifts in material planning for the tasks, demonstrated improved sorting accuracy, collaborated for the common good and showed positive environmental attitudes. The nudges provided visual cues to reuse materials.