Beyond Human Needs.

The Rise of Life-Centred Design

For decades, design has focused primarily on human needs, driven by the principles of human-centred design. While this approach has yielded significant advancements in most fields, a growing recognition of the interdependence between humans and the broader ecosystem now calls for an overdue and transformative shift. Put simply, we've been designing for one species for a really long time. The question is, how do we move on from human-centred design to a multi-species agenda?

I guess the other realisation for those adopting this approach is quite simply the fact that we cannot change nature and we have to collaborate with it.

The Need for Evolution in Design Principles

As the world continues to face enormous environmental challenges, there is an urgent need to redefine our design principles. This redefinition involves shifting the environmental hierarchy to meet the demands of a new era, one that prioritises not just human needs but the well-being of the entire biosphere. Looking maybe five to ten years into the future, a pivotal shift toward life-centred design (LCD), or design for all life, is fast emerging.

Understanding Life-Centred Design

Life-centred design represents an ethical framework that places life as the utmost value, guiding us from an extractive to a restorative economy. This approach aims to cultivate green, sustainable environments where all inhabitants—human and non-human—thrive.

Unlike traditional human-centred design, which primarily considers human users, LCD integrates social, environmental, and sustainable considerations to comprehensively address the impacts on all species and ecosystems. It expands the circle of stakeholders from users and businesses to include non-users, local and global communities, and planetary boundaries.

Historical Context: The Roots of Human-Centred Design

To fully appreciate the shift to life-centred design, it's essential to understand the historical context of human-centred design. This approach emerged in the mid-20th century, influenced by things like ergonomics, cognitive psychology, and human-computer interaction. The primary goal was to create products, systems, and services that met human needs efficiently and effectively.

Human-centred design revolutionised big industries, leading to the development of user-friendly technologies, intuitive interfaces, and improved safety standards. However, its focus on optimising human experience often overlooked the broader ecological impacts, contributing to environmental degradation and unsustainable practices.

The Imperative for Change: Environmental and Ethical Considerations

The ecological crises of the 21st century—climate change, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution—highlight the limitations of human-centred design. The extraction of natural resources, unchecked industrial growth, and waste generation have strained the planet's ecosystems. As awareness of these issues grows, so does the understanding that human well-being is intrinsically linked to the health of the entire biosphere.

Ethically, the shift to life-centred design aligns with a more holistic worldview that recognises the rights and intrinsic value of all life forms. This perspective challenges the "prioritise humans" mindset, advocating for an interdependent relationship between humans and nature.

Legal and Ethical Frameworks Supporting LCD

Signalling this shift, legal frameworks are beginning to recognise the rights of natural entities, and entire nations are enacting laws that grant rights to nature. Although still in its early stages, with low awareness and varied practices, LCD holds profound implications for designers, innovators, and technologists.

For instance, countries like Ecuador and New Zealand have taken groundbreaking steps by legally recognising the rights of nature. Ecuador’s constitution includes rights for nature, while New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. These legal precedents highlight a growing acknowledgment of the intrinsic value of all life forms and the need for their protection.

The Role of Designers and Innovators

As we move forward, it is anticipated that governments will increasingly incentivise and integrate LCD principles, leading to significant improvements in how we interact with and sustain our world. Designers and innovators play a crucial and critical role in this transition. They must adopt a holistic view, considering the long-term impacts of their creations on all life forms and ecosystems.

The convergence of ethical imperatives, market trends, and legal frameworks indicates that life-centred design will be a defining force in the next decade of innovation and beyond. Designers must embrace principles such as biomimicry, which draws inspiration from nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies, and regenerative design, which aims to restore and renew natural systems.

Principles and Practices of Life-Centred Design

Implementing life-centred design involves several key principles and practices:

1. Biomimicry: Designing solutions inspired by nature's strategies and processes. This approach fosters innovation that is inherently sustainable and efficient.
2. Regenerative Design: Creating systems and processes that restore, renew, and revitalise their own sources of energy and materials, emphasising positive impacts on the environment.
3. Systems Thinking: Viewing design challenges as part of larger, interconnected systems. This holistic perspective helps identify broader implications and promotes sustainable outcomes.
4. Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: Involving diverse stakeholders, including non-human entities, in the design process. This practice ensures that multiple perspectives are considered, leading to more equitable and sustainable solutions.
5. Adaptive and Resilient Design: Developing designs that can adapt to changing environmental conditions and enhance ecosystem resilience. This approach ensures longevity and relevance in a dynamic world.

The Future of Design: Embracing Life-Centred Approaches

As we look toward the future, the adoption and integration of life-centred design principles will be essential in addressing the complex environmental challenges we face. By doing so, we can pave the way for a world where all species thrive, ensuring a resilient and vibrant ecosystem for generations to come.

Designers, innovators, and policymakers must collaborate to create frameworks that support life-centred practices. Educational institutions should incorporate LCD principles into their curriculum, preparing the next generation of designers to think and act ecologically. Governments and organisations should incentivise sustainable practices and recognise the value of biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Conclusion

The shift from human-centred to life-centred design represents a fundamental evolution in our approach to creating and innovating. By placing the well-being of the entire biosphere at the forefront, we can develop sustainable solutions that ensure the health and prosperity of all life forms. This paradigm shift challenges designers, innovators, and policymakers to rethink their roles and responsibilities, ultimately fostering a more harmonious and sustainable coexistence with nature.

In conclusion, the rise of life-centred design marks a transformative period in the history of design. As we embrace this holistic approach, we move beyond human needs to consider the intricate web of life that sustains us all. The journey towards life-centred design is not just a trend but a necessary evolution for a sustainable and thriving future.

Matt Parry - Co Founder and CEO The Future Collective?