Regenerative Design University of the Arts London (UAL)

Overview

In the context of a fast-accelerating climate and biodiversity emergency, sustainable design is not enough (Wahl). Over the past few decades, the integration of environmental considerations in the design process has focused on strategies such as more efficient use of natural resources (i.e. zero waste design) or the reduction of the environmental impact (i.e. using less toxic materials, carbon-neutral design).   

Regenerative Design goes beyond sustainability and actively contributes to restore and replenish what human activities have radically deteriorated. From intensive agriculture, to expanding mega cities, energy production, design and manufacture, global economics and finance systems, the majority of human endeavours manifests a worldview in which the natural world is understood as a resource to be exploited. 

Why choose this Regenerative Design programme from the University of the Arts London (UAL)

• A living systems approach: You will learn how to adopt living system thinking and deep ecology principles in your practice to design at the service of the regeneration of earth’s systems and communities.

• Hybrid and interdisciplinary expertise: The core course team consists of a designer, an ecologist and a cultural anthropologist.

• Situated learning: The course is online and “ultra-local”. You will be embedded within your home biosphere and community to develop a locally specific regenerative design project.

• Action research: You will learn to design for a more-than-human world through an individual, localised and bespoke action research project that integrates multi-species thinking.

• Ethical and holistic principles: This course focuses on holistic and ethical skillsets to work with ecological restoration, indigenous knowledges and local communities.