Cultivating an interdisciplinary, nature-centred design paradigm.
Over the past few years, concepts such as regenerative design, more-than-human perspectives, and nature-centred innovation have attracted growing attention across design, research, and education. DESIGNAE, a European COST Action dedicated to regenerative biodesign, suggests that this development is entering a new phase. Supported through the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) framework, DESIGNAE brings together researchers and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines. Beyond fostering collaboration, the network contributes to the development of a shared field of inquiry through working groups, conferences, training activities, and international exchange. Participation in its working groups is open to researchers and professionals interested in contributing to the network’s activities.
What makes the initiative noteworthy is not simply its focus on biology or biomaterials, but that DESIGNAE addresses the multiple dimensions required for a new field to develop and mature. The network is organized around six interconnected domains: observation and knowledge creation, biomaterials and biofabrication, computational technologies, regenerative applications, ethics and governance, and communication and education. Taken together, they reflect an effort to cultivate regenerative biodesign as a coherent field of inquiry and practice. Beyond theory and observation, the network is also exploring how nature-centred biodesign can be implemented and scaled through experimental projects and real-world applications.
The network is organized around six interconnected areas:
• Observation — understanding living systems
• Materials — developing biogenic matter and fabrication
• Computation — AI and computational biodesign
• Application — regenerative interventions
• Governance — ethics, law, and education
• Culture — communication and training
From theory to practice.
These six dimensions reflect an approach to design that positions human creativity within, rather than above, living systems. For decades, human-centred design has provided a valuable framework for innovation. DESIGNAE does not reject this legacy, but it points toward a broader horizon – one in which ecosystems, biological processes, and more-than-human relationships become integral considerations in design practice.
DESIGNAE demonstrates how this emerging field is beginning to find structure in research and practice. In March 2026, DESIGNAE held its inaugural international conference at the University of Aveiro in Portugal under the theme Nature-Centred Biodesign for Regeneration across Disciplines. The event explored topics ranging from bio-observation and biomaterials to regenerative futures, illustrating how a diverse community of researchers, designers, and practitioners is beginning to take shape around a common field of inquiry.
Why this matters for Anthrotopia?
Its significance lies not in any single project or technological breakthrough, but in the fact that it helps make an emerging field visible. Ideas that were once largely confined to experimental studios, speculative projects, and academic discourse are beginning to find expression through research agendas, educational initiatives, international collaboration, and communities of practice. Many of the themes explored on Anthrotopia – regeneration, intelligence, technology, and humanity’s relationship with the living world – are often discussed as emerging possibilities. DESIGNAE suggests that these possibilities are beginning to crystallize into structures, networks, and practices. The challenge is no longer simply imagining a nature-centred future. It is learning how to build one.
