Beliefs & Approach

Regenerative Cultures through Inquiry and Connection

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Systemic Space-Making

Inspired by Nora Bateson, we recognise change as something that emerges within living systems. Rather than ‘making’ change, we create spaces where diverse perspectives, knowledge, and experiences combine organically, allowing new possibilities to emerge, aligning with Donella Meadows’ idea of “dancing with the system.”

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Weaving in the Present
As Chief Ninawa Inu Huni Kui reminds us, our future depends on mending and nurturing relationships now. Our approach to design is relational, focusing on strengthening the networks and communities we serve, grounded in the principles of relational ecology, where resilience stems from connection and collaboration, not isolated solutions.

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Experimentation and Feedback
Inspired by Margaret Wheatley, we see true innovation as a result of continual experimentation, listening, and adapting. Our iterative approach prioritises reflection, adaptability, and responsiveness, embedding these as essential elements of a transformative design practice and approach.

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Regenerative Co-Creation
Guided by regenerative principles, we design beyond sustainability, aiming to restore, renew and support life in all forms. By integrating ecological reciprocity, our designs seek to enrich both human and natural communities, respecting the ecological and social boundaries of our world.

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The Semiotics of Tenderness
Inspired by John Paul Lederach’s work on empathy in conflict transformation, we view tenderness as a powerful lens to design for lasting human connection and care. We consider the long-term relational impacts of our actions, aligning with the seventh-generation principle, fostering stewardship for future generations.

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Different Ways of Knowing

​Inspired by thinkers like Gregory and Nora Bateson and John Paul Lederach, we integrate analytical rigour with cultural, subjective, and experiential insights, bridging divides for a more systemic, relational, artful, and embodied approach to knowledge and engagement. Inviting us to value diverse knowledge systems, from indigenous wisdom to scientific inquiry, fostering a pluralistic understanding of our complex world.

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‘Life doesn't exist in disciplines actually life is happening in various contexts, and when these contexts overlap it becomes really obvious that you can't make flat diagrams of them that make any sense, and you can't pick things apart and try to fix them when in fact you're working with a multi-contextual issue that is living and alive in multiple different ways.’

Nora Bateson