10.1 What is Regenerative Design, Anyway? Foundations, Lexicons, and Interdisciplinary Intersections

Corresponding Chairs

Angela Kilford, Massey University

Inge Panneels, University of Edinburgh

Co-Chairs

Iohanna Nicenboim, Delft University of Technology

Sonya Withers, Massey University

Rob Phillips, Royal College of Art

Chris Speed, RMIT University

Abstract

Regenerative Design is an emerging paradigm in design research and practice that aims to move beyond sustainability approaches, focused on harm reduction and consequences, to actively foster ecological and cultural renewal through relational, more-than-human perspectives.Recent work across bio-design, materials research, and ecological design demonstrates growing interest in regenerative approaches, yet the field lacks conceptual coherence and metrics of success. Existing papers span diverse domains—living materials, Indigenous design methodologies, multispecies interaction design, and practices that challenge extractive digital economies and ecological restoration—often using inconsistent terminology and theoretical frameworks. This fragmentation limits knowledge exchange and risks appropriating Indigenous concepts without proper attribution or understanding.

This track aims to create a meaningful research agenda that deeply engages with regenerative concepts. We seek explorative approaches that can inform practice while respecting the complex knowledge systems from which regenerative thinking emerges. This theme track seeks papers that helps establish foundational understandings of regenerative design through practical or theoretical contributions that help distinguish ‘regenerative’ from related design approaches (sustainable, circular, transition), develop methodologies for respectfully engaging with regeneration, including biodiversity and Indigenous knowledge systems, and/or present case studies (successes and failures) demonstrating regenerative principles in action. 

We're particularly interested in:

• Temporal scales and ecological rhythms

• More-than-human design approaches

• Regenerative material ecologies

• Post-anthropocentric design methodologies

• Design for multispecies flourishing

• Circular and regenerative economic models

• Accountability frameworks

Successful papers will contribute to defining regenerative design's theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and practical applications within design research, supporting the field's development toward ecological and social responsibility.

Keywords

regenerative design, Indigenous knowledge systems, systems thinking, material agencies, more-than-human design, accountability measures

References

Akama, Y., Hagen, P., & Whaanga-Schollum, D. (2019). Problematizing replicable design to practice respectful, reciprocal, and relational co-designing with Indigenous people. Design and Culture, 11(1), 59–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/17547075.2019.1571306

Burgess, H., & Painting, T. K. (2020). Onamata, anamata: A whakapapa perspective of Māori futurisms. In A.-M. Murtola & S. Walsh (Eds.), Whose futures? (pp. 207–233). Economic and Social Research Aotearoa.

Cole, R. J., Oliver, A., & Robinson, J. (2013). Regenerative design, socio-ecological systems and co-evolution. Building Research & Information, 41(2), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2013.747130

de la Cadena, M., & Escobar, A. (2023). Notes on excess: Towards pluriversal design. In M. Tironi, M. Chilet, C. Ureta Marín, & P. Hermansen (Eds.), Design for more-than-human futures: Towards post-anthropocentric worlding (pp. 29–50). Routledge.

Nicenboim, I., Karana, E., McQuillan, H., Devendorf, L., Kakehi, Y., Bell, F., Speed, C., Oogjes, D., Yao, L., Søndergaard, M. L. J., Helms, K., & Withers, S. (2025). Regenerative material ecologies in HCI. In CHI EA '25: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Article 763, pp. 1–5). https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3716303