How do ideas become regenerative?
In other words, how do early ideas that embrace regenerative ideals grow into tangible products, materials and services that actualise such ideals?
Further, how do the latter stay true to ideals of regeneration as they begin to scale and seek systemic impacts?
And what can larger, established organisations learn from the pioneers of this field?
The Becoming Regenerative Project (B-Regen) explores emerging practices of ‘creating with/for nature’ as a driver of transformation in the broader innovation economy.
It is a multi-year research and design project led by Dr Tuukka Toivonen (Reader in Regenerative Creativity) and Dr Onya Idoko (UCL IGP) in collaboration with MA Innovation Management graduate researchers (forming the Becoming Regenerative Research Group).
Becoming Regenerative has launched
Our launch event took place on 26 October at Samsung KX. It consisted of an afternoon of creative discussion with experts and practitioners in fields of biodesign and biotechnology, materials innovation, circular business and design practice and shifting cultural perspectives.
About
The Becoming Regenerative Project is a multi-year research and design undertaking by Dr Tuukka Toivonen (Reader in Regenerative Creativity – a sociologist and creativity researcher at CSM) and Dr Onya Idoko (Lecturer in Prosperity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation – an organisational scholar focused on entrepreneurship, strategy, creativity and emotions at UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity), in collaboration with MA Innovation Management graduate researchers.
This research investigates how ideas and projects that embrace regenerative aspirations and entail collaborations with living materials – from algae and flax to fungi and microbes – grow into tangible regenerative products and/or services through real-world creative journeys and emerging design practices.
Beyond exploring the experimental dimension of such journeys and practices in areas including sustainable fashion, regenerative design, biodesign and biomanufacturing, this research also examines how unconventional ideas and projects gain traction (or struggle to do so) through entrepreneurial efforts.
Contact
- Dr Tuukka Toivonen (Reader in Regenerative Creativity): t.toivonen@csm.arts.ac.uk
Visit Tuukka's research profile. - Molly Simpson (Project Administrator): m.simpson@csm.arts.ac.uk
- Contact the project: b-regen@csm.arts.ac.uk