LCD Weekly Issue - 050- Design Beyond Human Needs

⛰️ Words from the mountains

It's time to design beyond human needs. But what does this mean?

Today's environmental, social, and humanitarian challenges are deeply interconnected and increasingly complex. Our ecosystems are out of balance, and the solutions we seek can no longer rely solely on scientific or creative thinking. We must integrate both into a more holistic, Life-Centered approach.

For decades, design has centered around humans—creating products, services, businesses, and systems tailored to our needs. While this human-centric perspective brought innovation and progress, it has also contributed to environmental degradation and unintended harm to the planet. The time has come to recognize that we can no longer design solely for human benefit.

💡 Every design decision we make ripples outward, affecting the broader web of Life. Life-Centered Design invites us to consider these ripple effects. It asks what our creations do for humans and what they do to the world around us.

We have created 9 key differences between Human-Centered Design and Life-Centered Design. A shift in mindset. A deeper responsibility. A regenerative future.

Read more about it on our latest blog here.

🔥 Hot in the School

…Loading… ESC

Inspired by the escape key, ESC symbolizes stepping away from the screen and into something real. It's a call to reconnect—with nature, with one another, and with the deeper purpose of design. Together, we'll explore how creativity can inspire regeneration, collaboration, and meaningful change.

Forget the four walls of ordinary conferences. Out here, in the wild beauty of the Spanish Pyrenees, you’ll trade ideas and create the unexpected with local legends and global minds—through sharp keynotes and hands-on workshops.

We want you to leave with fire in your chest: fresh visions, genuine connections, and the energy to set your life and work ablaze with change.

We go live in May. Stay close 👉 Sign up to the waiting list here.

La Insólita - La escuela de verano de La Nave Nodriza:

Taller de Life-Centered Design Leadership. En Español.

Estamos muy emocionados de haber sido invitados a La Insólita.

Durante 4 días, facilitaremos un taller donde exploraremos el Life-Centered Design desde una perspectiva poco común: el liderazgo consciente y regenerativo. Una oportunidad para redescubrir el rol del diseño como herramienta para cuidar, regenerar y transformar.

Si te interesa el diseño con propósito, la sostenibilidad, y liderar con impacto más allá del humano... este espacio es para ti.

🔍 LCD Spotlight: Get to know more about La Nave Nodriza here.

🐅 LCD in the Wild

This Week's Inspo:

Book: Covival Toolbox - Liz Sanders and Peter Jan Stappers introduce generative design research methods that actively involve users in the early stages of design. These methods empower designers to co-create with participants, uncovering deep insights and fostering more meaningful, human-centered innovation.

Film: Our interfaces have lost their senses - This is the most beautiful website I have ever seen, and what an important message. Amelia Wattenberger critiques the evolution of digital interfaces, highlighting a shift from tactile, sensory-rich interactions to flat, screen-based experiences. She advocates for designs that re-engage our senses, fostering more intuitive and embodied connections with technology.

Art: Behind a Little House - Manuel Costino Photographer, "Part photography, part public collaboration, Behind a Little House is an ongoing participatory art project based on the notion of our place in the world beneath one sky."

Have an LCD-inspired find? Reply to this email & share it with us!

📢 Community Voices

Reader Question: "I live in a busy city, and I rarely think or connect with nature in my daily life. How can I start reconnecting with nature? - Laura X.

Our Take: Consider slowing down and spending time in nature. For instance, try taking your work outside. If you need to brainstorm, write, or create something, leave your computer behind, grab a notebook, and head outdoors. If possible, select an open space, like a park. Sometimes, returning to the basics helps us reconnect with our surroundings and ourselves.

🔎 Do you have any Life-Centered Desgin related questions? Reply to this email, and we might feature your question next week!

🛠️ LCD Toolbox

Quick Tip: Design Walks! Inspired by the question above, we will teach you how to do a design walk today!

💡 To start, step outside either alone or with your team. Choose a location that fits your needs, such as a park, forest, beach, or even just outside the office. While walking, team members should pair up and discuss the current project, sharing any ideas, thoughts, or impressions.

Upon returning, hold a check-in with the entire team. If you are alone, bring a notebook and take a moment to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Find a comfortable spot to sit quietly for five minutes, using all your senses to absorb your environment. Afterward, jot down any ideas or thoughts related to the project that you can share with your team later.

🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️ Give it a go & tell us how it works!

❓ LCD Provocation

What if slow was the normal speed? What would change if we all lived like our time was precious and limited (which it is).

Reply with your wildest ideas, and we will showcase them next week!

——————————-

Until next time,

Jeroen and Marce