Education & Research
Design Science is being validated alongside a rich tapestry of approaches – regenerative design, biomimicry, systems thinking, traditional ecological knowledge, transition design, the pluriverse, and many more – even as we face an unprecedented “polycrisis” across multiple global systems.
Buckminster Fuller’s (1895-1983) prolific life of exploration, discovery, invention and teaching was driven by his intention “to make the world work for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation without ecological offense or disadvantage of anyone”. Fuller was not intimidated by complexity, and he recognized and celebrated living relationships by developing Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science: combining an emphasis on individual initiative and integrity with whole systems thinking, scientific rigor and faithful reliance on life’s underlying principles. Starting in the 1960s, Fuller issued an urgent call for a Design Science revolution in support of living systems on Spaceship Earth.
BFI is actively developing new educational modules, tools, and frameworks to make Design Science broadly available and applicable in this critical decade of regeneration. We are also conducting ongoing fundamental applied research in Design Science with partners around the world.
Design Science Advisory Services
BFI offers Advisory Services utilizing a rigorous Design Science approach. We support governments, foundations, companies, institutional investors, and family offices in developing investment ready, mission critical project portfolios for regeneration. This requires a structured approach to meshing geospatial data, systems models, and solution inventories with community-driven knowledge and design. This Design Science driven process results in vibrant simulations and multiple viable scenarios that can drive rapid transformation.