Cultivating Virtue in Design

Many years ago, when I was deep in the halls of academia, Aristotle stood out as one of the most practical philosophers in a sea of abstract thinkers. His philosophy wasn’t about contemplating unattainable ideals or engaging in intellectual exercises divorced from real life. Instead, Aristotle concerned himself with how we could live a good life—by cultivating virtue. Fast-forward to today, and that same Aristotelian focus on practical wisdom can guide us in an unlikely domain: digital product design.

In a world where tech products increasingly dominate our lives, designers often focus on user engagement, efficiency, and aesthetics. But what if we could use Aristotle’s philosophy to design products that do more than just meet immediate needs? What if our products could help people live better, more virtuous lives?

Living a Good Life

For those unfamiliar with Aristotle’s philosophy, his concept of virtue ethics is key. Aristotle didn’t think that living a good life meant following rigid rules or simply aiming for personal pleasure. Instead, he believed in developing virtues—positive habits that help us find a balance between extremes. For instance, courage lies between the extremes of recklessness and cowardice, and generosity sits between stinginess and wastefulness. According to Aristotle, living a good life requires practicing these virtues in a balanced way, a concept he referred to as the golden mean.

Virtues, for Aristotle, are not innate but learned through experience and repetition. The more we practice a virtuous behavior, the more it becomes part of our character. His philosophy teaches that real happiness and fulfillment, or what he called eudaimonia (flourishing or well-being), come from developing and practicing these virtues over time.

So, how does this ancient wisdom apply to product design? If we design with an Aristotelian mindset, we’re not just creating products that solve surface-level problems or satisfy immediate desires. We’re creating products that help users build good habits, foster balance, and promote their long-term well-being.

Building Habits, Not Addictions

Aristotle would argue that the best products aren’t those that keep users hooked through addictive engagement loops. Instead, they are products that encourage users to grow and cultivate virtues, helping them find balance in their digital lives. Many products today focus on capturing attention and maximizing engagement, often leading to addictive behavior rather than self-improvement.

Take the app Forest, for example. Rather than promoting endless scrolling or attention-draining notifications, Forest encourages users to develop focus and time-management skills. The app works by allowing users to “plant a tree” when they need to focus. If they stay on task, the tree grows; if they leave the app or get distracted, the tree dies. Over time, this simple, gamified system promotes the virtue of self-discipline, helping users develop healthier work habits and find balance between productivity and distraction.

In an Aristotelian sense, Forest helps users practice moderation, finding the balance between the chaos of constant distractions and the rigid overemphasis on productivity. It’s a product that cultivates virtue, enabling users to improve themselves, not just engage for the sake of it.

Designing for Long-Term Fulfillment

At the heart of Aristotle’s philosophy is the idea of eudaimonia—a deep, long-lasting sense of fulfillment that comes from living a virtuous life. It’s different from pleasure, which is fleeting, and focuses instead on living in a way that promotes growth and well-being. In product design, this means shifting the focus from short-term rewards to encouraging users to take actions that lead to long-term fulfillment.

Consider apps like Duolingo, which guide users through the challenging but rewarding process of learning a new language. Instead of offering instant gratification, Duolingo emphasizes steady, consistent effort. Through features like streaks and daily practice goals, the app encourages users to develop the virtue of perseverance—sticking with a difficult task over time to achieve real progress. This approach reflects Aristotle’s belief that mastery and growth lead to true fulfillment.

An illustration of Duolingo's language learning app, featuring its iconic mascot and 5 other people.

Toeing the line between addiction and habit-building, Duolingo reinforces the concept of the virtue of perserverance, encouraging users to stick with the difficult task of learning a new language.

Similarly, fitness apps like Fitbit go beyond tracking daily steps. They encourage users to cultivate moderation and self-care by setting reasonable goals and promoting gradual improvements in health and fitness. By helping users strike a balance between being too sedentary and overexertion, these products guide people toward healthier habits, ultimately promoting their long-term well-being.

Practical Design Implications: The Golden Mean

Aristotle’s idea of the golden mean—finding the balance between extremes—has clear implications for product design. Many digital products either overwhelm users with too many features or oversimplify to the point of frustration. The ideal product, like Aristotle’s virtues, strikes a balance between functionality and simplicity.

An illustration of Duolingo's language learning app, featuring its iconic mascot and 5 other people.

Notion’s large selection of templates illustrates its flexibility. Users can engage with as little (or as many) of these features as they need.

A great example of this balance is Notion, a popular productivity tool. Notion offers a robust set of features for note-taking, planning, and organization, but it’s flexible enough for users to choose how much or how little they want to engage with. It doesn’t burden users with too many preset templates or limit their creativity. Instead, it allows them to shape the app to meet their unique needs, encouraging the virtue of autonomy by giving users control over their workflow while fostering discipline in organizing their tasks.

Encouraging Growth and Virtue

If we apply Aristotle’s teachings to product design, we should aim to create products that go beyond helping users achieve surface-level tasks—they should help users grow. This might mean designing experiences that promote reflection, foster meaningful interactions, or guide users toward healthier, more virtuous habits.

For example, Headspace, a popular meditation app, doesn’t just offer quick stress relief. It helps users cultivate important virtues like mindfulness, patience, and calm. These are traits essential for living a balanced and fulfilling life, and Headspace encourages users to practice these virtues regularly, leading to long-term personal growth. Aristotle would likely appreciate how the app fosters eudaimonia by helping users find inner peace and clarity through daily meditation.

By integrating Aristotle’s wisdom into our design philosophy, we can create products that not only serve users’ immediate needs but also contribute to their long-term well-being. When we focus on helping users become better versions of themselves, our designs gain deeper meaning and impact.

Designing to Flourish

In the fast-paced world of product design, it’s easy to focus on quick wins—features that boost engagement or trendy visual aesthetics. But Aristotle reminds us to think beyond the immediate. By designing products that encourage users to cultivate virtue, find balance, and pursue long-term well-being, we can create a richer, more meaningful digital experience for them.

Next time you sit down to design, consider Aristotle’s teachings. Ask yourself: How can I design a product that promotes balance, encourages growth, and helps users flourish? By incorporating these timeless principles, you might just find that your product not only meets user needs but also helps them lead better, more virtuous lives.