Our Guiding Principles

Designing for sustainability and circular systems is our priority. In order to tackle the complex environmental challenges our planet faces, we adopt a systems thinking approach, which considers the interconnectedness of various factors across our research areas. We aim to mitigate the negative impact of computational decision-making systems on the environment and promote circular solutions that reduce waste and prioritize resource efficiency.

We prioritize giving a voice to marginalized communities and those who are directly affected by the outcomes of our research. Our research engagements address environmental challenges while also promoting social justice and equity.

We actively advocate for policy change and collaborate with policymakers to develop and implement policies that support sustainable practices, incentivize circular design, and promote new or emerging economic models. By engaging with policymakers, we aim to influence decision-making and promote systemic change toward a more sustainable future.

Our approach involves conducting rigorous research using scientifically sound methods to investigate pressing issues and explore potential solutions. We strive to develop design outcomes that have a positive impact on the environment, communities, and the economy. Our focus is on circular design principles and prioritizes regenerative design, resource efficiency, and waste reduction through strategies such as reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycling.

To bring about change, we value a process that is both collaborative and accountable. We prioritize working in a way that is community-led, sustainable, and non-exploitative. We encourage collaboration across disciplines and the participation of a diverse range of stakeholders.

We prioritize the promotion of local and traditional knowledge in our work. Our approach involves exploring existing solutions and practices within the community before seeking out new design solutions. We value and respect the traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge and practices that have sustained communities for generations. Our aim is to incorporate these practices into our research and design processes to develop sustainable and effective outcomes.

We are committed to promoting sustainability and circular systems through the sharing of research knowledge and tools with our communities. Our approach involves freely publishing research findings and engaging in open dialogue with stakeholders. This promotes transparency and accountability, while also facilitating the spread of knowledge and tools to promote a more sustainable future.

Our goal is to achieve responsible growth, one that upholds quality, community cohesiveness, and strategic objectives. To achieve this, we maintain our independence and avoid academic isolation by collaborating with related domains. We believe that fostering engagement between communities is crucial to achieving our objectives. We understand that responsible growth is essential, and we ensure that it aligns with our values and goals.

Our priority is to promote diversity and inclusion by facilitating participation from a wide range of individuals across different categories, such as demographic, visible and non-visible diversity, economic, family-friendly, geographic, disciplinary, and stakeholder type. We believe in the simple mantra that there is only one race, the human race, but we recognize that our planet hosts millions of other life forms besides humanity. Therefore, we must work consciously to find a balance within our natural biosphere.

We strive to cultivate a culture of modesty and respect as we delve into the weighty issues facing our planet. We approach our work with humility, acknowledging the significance of our efforts in advancing sustainability, circular systems, and life-centered design.