The regenerative paradigm shifts from merely mitigating harm to actively restoring and enhancing the vitality of ecosystems (Reed, 2007 and Wahl, 2016) while reimagining societal and economic structures aligned with living principles. In the face of climate collapse and polycrises, the Regenerative Art and Design Research Group (RAD) seeks to investigate the role of art and design as a transformative force for more ecological futures. Through a systemic lens, the group examines how artistic and design practices can align with ecological principles, envisioning futures characterised by ecological integrity. The focus is on localised approaches which value the unique ecological and cultural characteristics of specific areas. How can this approach lead towards building more ecological processes/practices and a new design paradigm?
With a conviction in the pivotal role of art and design in cultivating regenerative imagination and enabling transformative and radical breakthroughs, the Regenerative Art and Design research group is committed to advancing ecological literacy and systemic thinking as foundational frameworks for traversing the complexities of socio-ecological transitions. How can art and design play a pivotal role in envisioning and activating alternative systems rooted in regenerative principles?
The group aims to deepen the acknowledgment of the more-than-human world, fostering critical insights to strengthen our capacity for connection, reciprocity, and coexistence. By interrogating materiality and advocating for material ethics of care, the group seeks to contribute to the viability of ecosystems. The group welcomes artistic practices to explore methodological approaches to reveal the socio-eco-political value of the unseen more-than-human worlds. On one end, it is about critique and revelation. On the other end, there comes a moment of action and critical imagination to interrupt and re-create.
By nurturing a culture of care and fostering design research experimentation through critical and imaginative methodologies, the group seeks to create pathways for regenerative narratives to exert transformative influence. Collaboration and transdisciplinary practices are a foundation of the group’s work. By engaging with diverse domains—including ecology, society, economy, policy, local communities, and art and design—the group positions itself as a systemic connector, cultivating regenerative approaches to ecological challenges.
How can the principles of regeneration be meaningfully expressed and explored through art and design practices? What role do creative practices and visual cultures play in advancing regenerative design paradigms? How can designers support scientific new knowledge through material and societal caring practices?
RAD aims to advance regenerative narratives that benefit socio-ecological systems by fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between environment, materials, society, places and production processes. Positioning artists and designers as agents of change, we explore how regenerative design practices can envision future lifestyles that transcend the mere use of biomaterials within existing production systems. The group will focus on materiality in relation to ecosystem viability, examining the potential of systemic material education. This includes exploring how materials interact with ecosystems and how they can be leveraged to transform production systems into regenerative frameworks that support local communities and enhance lifeworlds.
Through collaborating with artists and researchers, we strive to envision regenerative futures that move beyond established frameworks and lifestyles, imagining radical alternatives that integrate ecological considerations and drive systemic change integrate ecological insights and drive systemic change for what lies ahead. How might art and design develop ‘futuring’ caring practices that address eco-social contexts while remaining attuned to local and historical perspectives?
Transformative education is key focus. Recognizing the extractive paradigms inherent in traditional design education, the group reimagines pedagogical approaches to art and design. By proposing alternative modes of teaching that embrace complexity and ecological principles, the group invites experimental, bioregional learning approaches that align with regenerative values. Equally important is the group’s commitment to critically explore the role of technology in fostering healthier habitats and advance regenerative design practices.
The group seeks to contribute to a new generation of regenerative designers and artists who address the pressing need for transitions that support planetary health. By taking whole systems responsibility through collaborative practices, the group aims to create transformative pathways for reimagining design futures grounded in care and ecological integrity.
Impact
The chair of the research group Regenerative Art and Design (RAD) is Professor Dr. Delfina Fantini van Ditmar. The research group was preceded by the Biobased Art and Design (BAD) group chaired by Prof. Elvin Karana.
Prof. Fantini van Ditmar practice is concerned with ecological thinking, reflective practices, epistemological paradigms and alternative futures. Driven by her interest in ecological thinking, reflective practices and inter-relations as a systemic response to the environmental collapse, Delfina’s critical practice examines material ethics of care and the necessary paradigm shift in design. In her teaching practice, Delfina encourages students to reflect on epistemological paradigms, envision alternative futures, think systemically and critically analyse the broader implications of their decisions.
She co-founded the Design Research Society (DRS) Special Interest Group on Design and Ethics and was chosen as one of the Future Observatory Design Researchers in Residence (DRiR) at the Design Museum. Additionally, Professor Fantini van Ditmar is a co-investigator on Becoming-Regenerative, an AHRC/ESRC-funded (1 £M) project that examines the role of art and design in shaping regenerative imagination. She is also actively engaged in the development of the new academic degree Professional Doctorate (PD) and the preparation of the relevant PD pilots within the fields of art and design.