The Life-centered Design Collective
The Life-centered Design Collective is a small group of designers and educators with varying backgrounds. Our goal is to bring together people, skills and knowledge that advance the practice and advocate for the philosophy of life-centered design.
Our Life-centered Design Principles
9 principles to guide life-centered thinking and doing
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1. Purpose over profit
We choose purpose as a driver for our decision-making, over profit, which is viewed as a means to a higher goal that serves the many.
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2. Inspired by nature
We apply Biomimicry and therefore take inspiration from natural systems and nature as a whole.
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3. Interconnected
We apply systems thinking and aim to uphold the balance of the ecosystem.
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4. Lifecycle aware
Choosing a holistic approach and regarding the whole lifecycle of a solution.
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5. Long term thinking & doing
Applying long-term thinking and aiming for sustainable and regenerative solutions.
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6. Sufficiency
Focussing on what is important and leaving out unnecessary complexity if it does not add value.
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7. Equal and thriving
Aiming for services, systems and products that are socially just and ethical throughout their whole lifecycle.
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8. De-centring and reimagining
Questioning the status quo and current solutions with the goal to change the world for the better for all life.
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9. Acknowledging of all lifeforms
Considering all peoples, species and environments while designing products, systems and services.
Life-centered design case study
Reflections on the Usefulness and Limitations of Tools for Life-centered Design
Life-centered design is getting a lot of attention. But there is not
much information available about how to use this approach in practice.
To investigate the application of life-centered tools, we did a first person
study, analyzing a popular flat-pack chair through four tools: systems maps,
actant maps, product lifecycle maps and behavioural impact canvas.
Read how we identified human and non-human actors, understood their interconnectedness,
and identified gaps in the process.
Collective Resources
As a collective and individually, we have created practicable resources to get started with life-centered design.
About the Collective
Why we exist and our purpose
The Life-centered Design Collective is a small group of designers
and educators with varying backgrounds. Our goal is to bring
together people, skills and knowledge that advance the practice and
advocate for the philosophy of life-centered design.
We imagine a world where all life and long-term effects are top of mind
while creating products, services and systems.
If you have questions or just want to get in touch, feel free to contact
anyone of our members
.
Our Approach
Our collective operates on two levels:
- Individual Exploration: Each member engages in personal exploration, continually expanding our knowledge and expertise. We come together regularly to share experiences and insights, fostering a rich environment of collaborative learning.
- Collaborative Projects: We undertake group projects that exemplify the principles of Life-centered Design. These projects serve as both practical applications and educational tools, allowing us to disseminate our findings and inspire others in the design community.
Our Philosophy
At the core of Life-centered Design is the belief that design should be holistic, inclusive, and sustainable. We strive to create solutions that are not only innovative but also mindful of the interconnectedness of life. By focusing on the bigger picture, we aim to address complex challenges in ways that promote harmony between human needs and the natural world.
Get Involved
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our group and our projects. Whether you're a fellow designer, an educator, or simply someone interested in sustainable design, we welcome you to connect with us. Visit our contact section to reach out to any of our members, and join us in our journey towards a life-centered future.
Members of the collective
The founders of the Life-centered Design Collective, who are driving things forward:
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Estela Duhart Benavides
Chicago, US
Estela Duhart Benavides is a Design Strategist and Design Researcher working towards a more equitable, just and life-centered design practice.
Contact me for:
Social Design & Biomimicry • Design Research • Co-design in Healthcare
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Katharina Clasen
Stuttgart, Germany
Katharina has been working as a freelancer and lecturer in the UX industry for more than 10 years. Her focus is on providing holistic support to early-stage startups as well as extensive guidance in research, conception, and design for digitalization projects of established companies.
Contact me for:
UX Design & UI Design • Life-centered Design consultancy • Speaking (occasionally)
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Damien Lutz
Sydney, Australia
Hi, I’m a multi-disciplinary designer developing and teaching life-centred design, futuring, and non-human personas. I founded Life-centred Design Lab and Future Scouting from where I share books, tools, courses, research, and more.
Contact me for:
Life-centred Design Resources & Learning • Designing Futures Resources & Learning
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Jeroen Spoelstra
Aínsa, Spain
Hi, I am a designer working in the educational, startup, and societal space. I founded the Life-Centered Design School in 2022. Here, I combine my love for design, nature, and education. I enjoy connecting designers and innovators with their creative and natural purpose.
Contact me for:
Life-Centred Design Training • Non-Human Persona creation and Impact Mapping Methods
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Dr. Martin Tomitsch
Sydney, Australia
I am a design academic with a focus on future technologies and methods for considering non-humans in the design process. I am passionate about empowering designers and decision-makers to drive positive change through transdisciplinary approaches.
Contact me for:
Public speaking • University collaboration • Transdisciplinary approaches
Friends of the collective
The people supporting the Life-centered Design Collective whenever possible:
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Timo Clasen
Frontend Engineer @Steuerbot with a passion for fast and sustainable web experiences.
Building LifeCenteredDesign.Net together with his wife Katharina.
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Monika Sznel
User Experience Researcher and cultural anthropologist. In the era of Anthropocene & climate change, she is an advocate for including non-human stakeholders’ needs into the design process. Her ideas are presented in a collection of articles around environment-centered design on Medium.
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Madeleine van Venetie
Senior User Experience Designer