What would nature do?
Is now the time to consider moving from a human-centric to an ecosystem-centric framework? This short article is inspired by new mindsets and approaches to design that I see emerging concurrently in the mainstream all around the globe. Further I touch on a hypothesis that there is a correlation between an evolution in human consciousness, design mindsets, and the transformation that is beginning to take place in our economy towards a zero carbon economy.
I have recently been musing on what the place of Human Centered Design is in a world that seems to be begging us to look beyond ourselves, beyond the human and towards the ecology we are apart of. Can we solve problems like global warming only by empathising with humans or do we need to consider new stakeholders in this problem?
I was privileged to recently spend time being introduced to Regenerative Design by two amazing humans, @Bill Reed (founder of Regenesis Group) and @Sara Rickards. A Regenerative Design approach to problem solving always keeps the Whole in mind; it asks us to consider how the parts are related to a greater whole and in this sense it suggests that humans are connected not just to eachother but also to the planet of which we are apart. Indeed how to remember at all times that we are in fact apart of nature. I think I could sum up the teaching with a question one can ask when looking at design problems: "what would nature do?". Regenerative Design invites us to be conscious of and design for life, to build capability for the co-evolution not just for ourselves but for one's surrounding community, birds, bees and systems.
I love this question / idea. It feels so right to think about nature as a stakeholder in design problems and to consider what nature would indeed do to solve problems. Nature is generative, creative, and strives for harmony in ecosystems. And while, you might be asking is this a bit woo woo, and how does this fit with the Human Centered Design approach we have come to know? I have news for you that even the big wigs of Human Centered Design, IDEO are jumping onboard Regenerative Design mindsets and methodologies.
On their new website Circular Design Guide, IDEO proudly pronounces: "The future is circular" and that "Creating value for every player in your wider ecosystem will help that system thrive in the long term". They use an example of creating a local production network that provides economic support to your surrounding area, which could in turn give the community the wealth and ability to buy your product or service. "Nurturing the people (think users, employees or partners) and natural systems that directly draw from or support your organisation can be a source of growth, creativity, and innovation". In other words, human beings are a part of a greater ecology, and by attending to that ecology you are in fact attending to the humans that are very much a part.
These holistic ideas are similarly being echoed by the British Govts advisor on design the "Design Council" (thanks to @Alice Howard-Vyse for the share) in their recent 2021 work Beyond Net Zero - A Systemic Design Approach where they write: "It is vital we take a holistic approach (to design) that encourages actions that are environmentally and socially sustainable". The Design Council in fact goes on to suggest a new Systemic Design Framework which builds on their previous framework for innovation where they suggest including the role of a "Systems Thinker" in every design initiative: "Someone who has the ability to see how everything is interconnected in a bigger picture, and zoom between the micro and the macro and across silos".
Closer to home, national design studios like Meld Studios are leading the way, iterating on traditional models for innovation and inviting designers to think not just what is Feasible, Desirable and Viable (IDEOs DVF Venn Diagram) but also What is Ethical. In their Meld Advocacy Framework, which guides their work with clients to create products and services, they advocate for flourishing ecologies: "Everyone present and future has the right to live within a healthy and flourishing world, within ecosystems that support a high quality of life for all living things".
The fact is we as human beings are not alone - we are a part of all of life. And it is a joy to see this simple fact of life strongly shining through in new design mindsets and methodologies globally from designers like Bill Reed and Sara Rickards, to internationally recognized bodies such as the British Design Council; from recognised US design organisations like IDEO to leading Australian design companies like Meld.
In turn, it is interesting to note a correlation between how our design mindsets and methodologies are evolving and just what is happening if you open any newspaper and see how many articles are considering humanities impact on climate change and the environment. Look too at the transformations taking place as designers around the world consciously design our way towards decarbonised economies to help the planet from overheating. It is certainly an exciting time to be alive as we bare witness to a growing human consciousness of our part of a greater whole, a resulting change in our design mindsets and the inspiring innovation in products and services that benefit people and planet that follow from that. Stay tuned.
