Students Year 2
Quoi Alexander, Bonnie Carr, Susanna-Mei Casuncad, Mark Hester, Lucy Mitchell, Sherry Perrault, Ines Quinones Fabregas, Kristen Robb, Marcell Csillag, Olga Glagoleva, Charlie Whinney
MARD Team
Judith van den Boom, Delfina Fantini van Ditmar
Design Innovation Group
Merel van der Woude, Dan Eames, Thais Costa
The Nieuwe Instituut,
Nadia Troeman, Klaas Kuitenbrouwer, Frank Verkade
Part of a collaborative series of ReWorlding sessions
https://reworldingsessions.com
https://reworldingsessions.com/session-1-mard
As co-researchers, we will work on a 1-month design sprint in October and use the design sprint to develop a living lexicon for a regenerative world.
Each co-researcher will respond to provocations through probing and action learning. And as a group we will explore the dimensions, processes and activated relations in regenerative design.
The design sprint is built up through the weeks, zooming into different topics that concern regeneration. All participating co-researchers will develop place-based, active probes aimed at exploring new lived vocabularies that contribute to the inclusion and activation of regenerative societies. This will extend regenerative actions beyond the design ‘bubble’ and activate processes that foster sharing, reciprocity, and deep listening within the communities we are part of.
The MA Regenerative Design of Central Saint Martins and Design Innovation Group are both on a learning journey to make regenerative design more tangible and inclusive, to explore what it can be and how designers from different fields and different cultural and geographical backgrounds can further regenerative principles through the activation of being living system communities. In collaboration with knowledge partners the Nieuwe Institute and guests this project explores the practical processes of designing regeneratively.
We feel the need to transition to a regenerative society, and work towards increasing our human relational capacity and understanding. Numerous inspiring initiatives and vast potential for applying regenerative approaches are emerging. We are optimistic about this future and recognize the many voices, experiences and perspectives around the world who are developing relational practices. Yet, we also see we operate in our bubble, working often from the contexts we grew up in, privilege, capacity, or design-led ways that serve only specific audiences.
How can we practice and foster learning as a multi-species community? How do we shift from projecting design solutions to co-creating a more open, collective regenerative society?
Regeneration requires working as a living system and acknowledging how we as humans are part of a complexity of biological interdependent systems - from cell to society. Regenerative futures require thinking beyond the human markets and audience and serve the flourishing of all species. Practicing being human in a more-than-human world, learning from lived-experiences and building creative, inclusive and practical forms to communicate and activate this vision for a regenerative world.
These ecological and biological systems or living systems are often beyond the grasp of human knowledge so how do we relate and learn? How do we envision a regenerative society that is led by living system communities? What might this mean for how we live together as a living system, how might we build relations, mend, work and connect? How might we share, nurture, distribute or educate?
In this design sprint we aim to open the vocabulary and translate regeneration into activated design processes that probe a more inclusive approaches and radical practices in taking the other in the process and co-create a world that is for all species, and a language that is accessible for humans.
Reflecting on this journey, several guiding principles emerged that may serve as the foundation for a future regenerative design framework:
Relational Foundations in Design
Regenerative design starts with understanding and honouring relationships—between people, species, and places. This relational approach challenges designers to become active participants in the ecosystems they impact, fostering empathy and responsibility. Be aware and welcoming of the fact that following a regenerative design process will impact the you just as much as the other entities involved in the process.
Storytelling as a Regenerative Tool
Narrative is a powerful way to convey the abstract and sometimes challenging concepts of regenerative design. Storytelling can help bridge cultural and species divides, making the principles and values of regeneration accessible to a broader audience. In our process, we applied a wide range of storytelling formats, from visual to sound and smell and, of course, oral and written. Exploring the local knowledge keepers will bring you inspiration on place-based storytelling formats.
Inclusive and Ethical Approaches
Regenerative design requires an ethical commitment to more-than-human perspectives. It extends beyond human needs, creating frameworks that respect and honour the integrity of all beings and ecosystems involved. This asks for a humble approach as well as a lot of self-confidence. In full transparency, you can share your own motivation and ideas behind the chosen directions. There are many choices to be made, none are wrong or right; just remember, they say a lot about you, your place and role as a regenerative designer.
Collaborative Co-Creation
Designing with, rather than for, is essential in regenerative practices. Co-creation opens new avenues for inclusion, allowing the contributions and wisdom of all community members, human and non-human, to inform the design process. Of course, a co-creation with non-humans and even abiotic participants requires a different approach from the designer. You are not a facilitator but more a participant and sometimes a translator. It also requires a strong sense of both questioning and trusting your own intuition to interpret input.
A Living and Adaptable Framework
Finally, the flexibility of a living lexicon underscores the value of adaptability in regenerative design. Rather than a static guide, a living framework supports ongoing learning, growth, and responsiveness, evolving with each new interaction and insight.