About the school
The Life-Centered Design School is an initiative from Unbeaten Studio. We want to share our knowledge about life-centered design with other creative professionals like you. We founded the school in 2022 with the idea that wherever you are, you can learn the new design mindset and skills that are so important for a future where nature and invisible & marginalized communities are as important in the design process as regular stakeholders.
Our programs are online, in the wild, out in the open, and combined. You can join us for a retreat in the Spanish Pyrenees or take the fundamentals course from your own natural environment.
We are realizing our dream of growing a global community of life-centered design practitioners. As a seed, we start small and garden it with care
School principles
Nature is our partner
Immersing in nature and in our communities makes us feel at home and connected. We recognize that we are part of nature and, therefore, we should not harm it.
Design needs pluriversity
The school is home to all who want to practice Life Centered Design. We are a pluriverse community of creatives founded on the ancient & new wisdom of cultures worldwide.
Non-efficient by choice
We have an experiment-first approach to discovering new ways of harmless living with nature and each other. We follow the path of the river.
Ambiguous minds
Ambiguity is in our hearts & soul. Only by being open to the views of nature and other minds we can truly see what is bringing the planet forward.
Together we grow
The school is ever-evolving. We never stop learning and growing. We will always be emergent, as is nature and our human nature.
Our Framework
Life-Centred Design as a design philosophy and approach that goes beyond human needs and puts life at the centre of our creation. And advocates for biological ecosystems and non-user communities that never had a voice before in design. The long-term goal is to restore natural ecosystems and create a new balance between nature and societies.
The Life-Centered Design Landscape
With its holistic nature, we believe you move through a life-centered design landscape with different spaces rather than following a step-by-step design process. We identify the following spaces:
Understanding the Systems of Life
Co-Design with Life
Bring Designs to Life
The LCD spaces allow you to take on a life-centered design project successfully. Depending on the need of the project the need of the planet, you can start with in either one of these spaces.
The Life-Centered Design Rythm
This is the way you move through any space within life-centered design. Our LCD rhythm is Conversation, Integration & Regeneration.
Conversations are the key to creating relationships with both nature & people. In every space, you need to keep the dialogue open.
Always design with CoCreation and sufficiency in mind in every space. There is no such thing as a single solution.
Within Regeneration, you always look to add value & impact for nature, community & economy within the ecosystem of your project.