The Evolution of Regenerative Design – And its Impact on Organizations

Daniel Christian Wahl

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 11:30 – 1:00 ET

For September’s C4FE session we are honored to host Daniel Christian Wahl, who will be well-known to many in the regeneration movement, and in systemic design. Daniel’s book Designing Regenerative Cultures is widely known and translated, and he has a wide array of engagements online. He was an RSA Bicentenary Medal recipient for Regenerative Design in 2021, a Volans Fellow in 2022, and was previously the Director of Findhorn College. If you know of all these institutes, you will already know of Daniel.

We know that transformations toward flourishing are part of a movement of movements, with many different approaches finding alignment over time. Daniel’s work in regenerative design has activated a practice and a growing movement that impacts landscapes and place-making, bioregions and relationship to nature, and education and institutional change. With Daniel, having come from Schumacher and Findhorn, a dedication to nature in sustainability, and regenerative culture drives collaborative design.

For the C4FE, Daniel will join us for an open-ended dialogue with the C4FE, starting with a moderated conversation with Peter Jones, and opening up to the audience in dialogue. A unique focus with the FEI and flourishing is our strong focus on economic change and the theory of change for enterprises. We hope to discuss the movement of regeneration and the role of organizations in regenerative cultural evolution.

* More: Daniel is well-known in the systemic design community (RSD). With Tobias Luthe of AHO and ETH, Daniel is a partner in their novel online MOOC course Designing Resilient Regenerative Systems, and the new certificate program. The Systemic Design certificate (CAS) features an eight-day field design trip to Daniels’ home bioregion of Mallorca, Spain, at the end of October 2024.

Event Summary

AI-generated meeting summary

Summary (by Morgan Bath)

In his talk, Daniel reminds us that regenerative cultures are not a new concept—they’ve been central to human life for most of our history. He argues that we need to reconnect with this way of living, one that recognizes that humans are just one part of a complex natural system. Instead of trying to dominate nature, calling for us to work with it, recognizing that it shapes us as much as we influence it. This shift requires a more humble and adaptable design approach that works alongside nature’s processes.

Daniel critiques the way science and data are often used with overconfidence, reminding us that people have forgotten the humility in the phrase, “to the best of our knowledge at this time.” He stresses the need to question our assumptions about agency and change. Through his work with diverse communities, exploring these ideas, encouraging people—especially experts—to remain open to new perspectives and fresh approaches. There is an urgency for change, as we may no longer have time for gradual transitions and instead need to focus on building resilience for potentially major societal shifts.

At the same time, Daniel questions the global structures we rely on, such as nations and borders, which he argues are based on outdated power dynamics. His message is that we need to localize and regionalize our efforts, preparing for significant changes in how we live and relate to the world around us. Ultimately, Daniel calls for a deep, systemic shift in how we approach our relationship with nature, moving beyond sustainability to practices that regenerate both our environment and our communities.