Designing Cities For All: RE-generation

Designing Cities for All: RE-generation is a two-year research and presentation programme (2023/2024). After exploring the concept of exclusion by design in the first two years of Designing Cities for All, now, the project focuses on the field of regenerative design: the design of products, services, systems and processes that lead to social and ecological recovery and that keep the systems healthy. How might we design for not just everyone, but for all living things? DCFA: RE-generation is a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge generation, through live public programmes, desk research and interviews, excursions, the DCFA Student Book Club and a university tour.

In the new series Designing Cities for All: RE-generation, DCFA delves into the subject of regenerative design during two years of creative, interactive, intersectional, participatory and practical programmes, and together with designers, professionals, students, storytellers, policymakers and other experts from many different disciplines.

Environment, social justice, economy – it’s become clear that our dominant systems are broken. In her 3-month DCFA Fellowship series on Regenerative Design, Singapore-based urbanist, strategist, curator and writer Sarah Ichioka dives deeper into the possibilities for systemic change. What promising alternative systems and regenerative practices are already emerging around the world? Who are taking the first steps towards these essential changes? And what is the role of design?

More information to be announced soon!

In 2021/2022, Designing Cities for All (DCFA) explored the notion of exclusion by design – the conscious or unconscious exclusion of certain people, groups and other creatures through non-inclusive design. The role of design in the fields of Inclusion & Diversity, Architecture, Climate (Justice), (Digital) Democracy, Equity, Technology, (Health)care, Journalism, Participatory Design, Education and Decolonisation was mapped out and examined, together with an array of designers, artists, storytellers, policymakers, urban planners, scientists and other experts, including six DCFA Fellows.

One of the most important lessons gained during the 2021/2022 series is that to truly design ‘for all’, we have to widen our gaze beyond the human. Keeping systems afloat in which humankind can only thrive at the expense of other beings is just nor sustainable. Cities ‘for, by and with’ everyone are not enough – we need to aim for cities for, by and with all (living) things. Which is why in 2023/2024, DCFA is looking through the social and ecological lens of regenerative design.