LCD Weekly Issue - 011- The Future of Life-Centered Design
🏔️ Words from the mountains
When we discussed this week's topic, we kept tapping into the future. Today, we will share what we think Life-Centered Design will look like in three years.
It is hard to predict the future (especially in our times), so here we go. There is much to say about this, but let's stick to three trends: the twin transition, the rise of female design leadership and place-based Design.
The Twin Transition:
A lot of research discusses the combination of sustainable and digital transition and how that changes society and the economy. This is called the Twin Transition or the 4th industrial revolution.
We see much happening now in the digital space, especially with AI. I feel the sustainable transformation is staying behind. Nowadays, designers are tied between the green purpose of our employer and the day-to-day business reality. We need more green skills to bridge the gap between digital and sustainable,
The demand for sustainable, life-centered design will grow. I see more and more designers from corporations and renowned design studios joining our webinars, workshops, and courses. More organizations understand that we must move from a design that extracts value to one that creates value for nature, communities, and economies.
Feminin and Plurivers:
In three years, hundreds or thousands of female designers will lead life-centered design teams and projects worldwide. Why? Because most designers who take one of our courses, join our webinars, and meet us are female.
Marce and I have two different theories on why women power LCD:
Life-centered Design is about taking action, taking responsibility for our creations, and evolving the way we design for the betterment of the planet. We know something must be done, and we women go for it. (Marce)
Life-centered Design is about caring for the planet and others beyond the end user, which resonates more with women. I want to encourage men to open up about their femininity and realize the power stored there because we need male designers, too. (Jeroen)
LCD is not a Silicon Valley-pushed design approach such as Human-Centered Design. This is a global movement from designers from Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, North America, and Europe who feel the need to design ethically, caringly, and life-centeredly for the betterment of their world. I don't see LCD evolving in a rigid process but in a mindset and principles that fit your cultural, natural & economic context as a designer.
Place-based Design:
In the following decades, I don't see corporations and globalization disappearing. But, I see the rise of counterbalance, which is more place-based, sustainable, social and brings regenerative solutions to questions. The world has become so complex and intertwined that the scream for more straightforward solutions is getting louder, and they are often more local and regional. This is reflected in a lot of designers that I talk with. They want to design with their community to impact the people and nature around them positively.
Life-Centered Design
In three years, I see a vibrant life-centered design community of designers from all over the world who use a form of LCD that they adapt to their context. These designers actively seek ways to include nature and advocate for invisible communities in their design projects.
I hope designers stop hiding behind new tools and start taking ownership of a specific problem area and Design answers/ solutions that work. Sometimes, this is not designing anything at all.
🐅 LCD in the Wild - AI X DESIGN
Nadia was my student when I taught at the Inholland University of Applied Sciences. She is the founder of AIXDESIGN, and I've always been impressed and inspired by her projects!
"WE'RE A GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND LAB NOURISHING ALTERNATIVE, FEMINIST + PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES TO AI FOR THE REST OF US 🐛
Reaching beyond big tech's algorithmic imaginaries to ones that align with ideologies of agency & care, we do so through community-based research, developing design tools, hosting programs & workshops, running experiments, deconstructing critical discourse, and publishing our learning in the open."
🪄 Inspiration- Mothers Rebellion For Climate Justice
I know several Life-Centered Design Women who are Mothers. Hence, the inspiration for the week is Mothers Rebellion For Climate Justice, which goes hand in hand with my argument on why women are more driven to LCD.
"Mothers* Rebellion is a movement of mothers, caregivers and allies in a growing global community on six continents. We will not give up the fight for a sustainable present and future for the current and coming generations. We want to be able to look our children into the eyes and say that we truly do all that we can. We turn our grief and frustration over the lack of a powerful, transformative response from our politicians and leaders into action.”
Take a look at their website. Here, you can find the March protests all around the world. It makes me want to do one in the Pyrenees! Do you want to host one where you live?
I do feel inspired!
🔥 Hot in the school- Non-Human Persona On-Demand Course
Last year, we launched our Non-Human Persona Course. We recommend it as a great way to begin your transformative journey into Life-Centered Design, where you'll learn to give nature a voice and start shaping a regenerative future with design.
It is an exciting and fun self-paced course with:
4 immersive modules
17 engaging lessons
Diverse Learning Methods: Video, Audio, & Design Frameworks
A personalized one-on-one coaching session
🌺🌸🌼🌻 As a spring celebration, we offer a 20% discount on the course! Use the code SPRING upon checkout, and start your LCD Journey today!
—————
That’s all for this week! See you next Monday!
👋 Jeroen and Marce
