Regenerative Design

The way we design our systems, places, and products shapes how we live, how we impact the planet, and our future. Regenerative Design invites you to take on a new perspective, building on the best of sustainability thinking to move past minimising harm and towards creating systems that actively restore and adapt. 

You will learn the principles and practices of regenerative design, from analysing material flows and social systems to prototyping innovative solutions. You'll draw on nature’s adaptive strategies, apply systems thinking, and explore circular economy approaches through case studies, projects, and mentor support. Through this course, you will gain the skills to create lasting change in your organisation and community. 

Our Regenerative Design course is best suited for:  

• Design & Planning Professionals: Individuals in fields like architecture, urban planning, and product design who want to move beyond conventional methods to create nature-inspired, restorative projects. 
• Sustainability Professionals: Those responsible for driving sustainability strategies who are looking to bridge the gap between strategy and practice, gaining a deeper understanding of design and planning to apply regenerative principles effectively. 
• Leaders and practitioners in business, government or community organisations: Professionals directing projects or making procurement decisions who need practical methods to guide teams, assess systems, and ensure projects deliver positive social and environmental outcomes. 

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to: 

• Lead the creation and design of innovative solutions by applying regenerative principles to real-world scenarios. 
• Collaboratively implement regenerative design principles, considering material lifecycles, finite resources, and system evolution. 
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable and circular approaches across a range of scales. 

This is an interdisciplinary course that immerses you in the principles of regenerative design.  

Over six weeks, committing to approximately 8–10 hours per week, you'll engage with online lessons, learn through hands-on case studies, and receive personalised support from our expert mentors.  

The course concludes with a project that challenges you to apply your new skills to a real-world scenario, empowering you to create practical solutions that restore systems and deliver lasting impact. 

The Regenerative Futures Institute works to find practical solutions that help rebuild and improve social, environmental, and economic systems, making the world fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable for everyone.

We use knowledge from different fields and bring together researchers, educators, industry experts, and communities to go beyond just reacting to global challenges - we aim to create lasting solutions that make a real difference. As a globally connected university, we combine local insights with international partnerships to speed up progress and make meaningful change.

Building on decades of work for a sustainable planet, we also draw from Indigenous Knowledge to develop ethical leadership and just societies. We tackle big problems like climate change and inequality with proactive solutions.

Whether it’s driving innovation, strengthening communities, sharing knowledge, or leading change - everyone has a role to play in shaping a better future.