DesignWISE – How Can We Create to Regenerate?
In design, we often follow a linear approach: we move from concept or brief to final outcome, making decisions without fully considering the broader consequences of our design choices. This linearity limits our ability to reflect on the interconnectedness of our decisions and their long-term impact on both people and the planet. As a result, we miss opportunities for deeper, regenerative change.
DesignWISE offers a radical alternative to this linearity by introducing a 360-degree decision-making process. Rooted in design thinking, systemic leadership, and indigenous wisdom, this tool invites us to reflect on every phase of design—from initial idea to final outcome—ensuring that every choice we make is part of a continuous cycle of introspection and regeneration.
The DesignWISE tool is structured as a wheel, inspired by the medicine wheel from indigenous cultures, which encourages holistic thinking and the integration of diverse perspectives. This approach ensures that we don’t just move from one step to the next, but instead, we engage in a circular, reflective process where every decision is revisited and evaluated within the larger context of our impact on the world.
At its core, DesignWISE operates on the belief that meaningful transformation in our organizations and societies requires reconnecting with deeper layers of our being and with the natural world. It calls for moving beyond conventional, linear thinking to adopt regenerative practices that foster sustainable, long-term evolution.
Incorporating sessions of introspection, contemplation, including mindfulness, DesignWISE reshapes how we approach design, helping us transcend traditional methods and embrace new forms of inspiration.
DesignWISE in Eight Phases. The DesignWISE wheel is composed of eight phases that follow the cyclical pattern of the medicine wheel, each representing different elements, energies, and life stages. This structure allows us to zoom in and out—from the specific and concrete to the planetary perspective—much like astronauts looking at our decisions from space.
The core questions driving DesignWISE include: How can we shift our perspective from human-centered to planetary thinking? How can we create to regenerate?
Learn more about DesignWISE in Ida Engholm’s book: Design for the New World: From Human Design to Planet Design.
A small handbook is available in Danish. The handbook will be published in English in mid-2025 by Intellect Books.