The Design Science Studio (DSS) is a transformative organism, commUnity of practice and regenerative cultural incubator that builds capacity of creatives through cross-pollination and a curriculum focused on crafting planet-conscious art and life-centered design science. Through a blend of ancient wisdom, decolonial pedagogy and modern innovation, the studio guides and encourages creators to re-shape narratives and craft creative interventions that foster cultural evolution. Our program culminates in impactful showcases and campaigns, envisioning a regenerative future where humanity harmonizes with nature, reaffirms its role as stewards of a just future and invites others to join the quest. In this pivotal era of systemic change, DSS champions a decade-long (r)Evolution of non-violent creativity, igniting conversations, collaborations and actions for a thriving, interconnected world.

This Open Civics' grant would fund an initial round research needed to develop a collaborative protocol for the Design Science Studio (DSS). Serving as the foundation for the transformation of the DSS, it would foster a decentralized schema for its evolution through the diverse voices from the commUnity. This funding would bolster a process to highlight and unearth design principles, guiding the production of an ARTicle that documents the development of an open-source toolkit alongside a set of practices to provide essential guidance for exploration and innovation within the DSS organism. Through this structured approach, vibrant community circles emerge as dynamic hubs of co-creation, engaging alumni and empowering them to actively shape the future trajectory of the DSS.

These community circles have the potential to not only foster inclusivity and shared stewardship but also nurture groundbreaking ideas through open collaboration and continuous feedback loops. The research goals would be centered around applying the self-organizing patterns that are embedded in the curriculum of the DSS, and to explore what methods of the application of those patterns could better empower the artists to swarm around creative projects. Additionally within the research we’d explore how to improve the curriculum for artists seeking to better understand regenerative design principles and make visible how the application of those within the container could support the transformation of its structure to be a more self-organized and active participatory network of artists and designers within the regenerative movement.

The collaboration, supported by the research grant, enables participants to delve deeper into their interests, contributing valuable knowledge to advance civic innovation within the Design Science Decade, which in turn bolsters our collective quest to regenerate culture and our planet through trim tab creative interventions. The journey’s outcomes, encapsulated in a living ledger, celebrate milestones achieved and inspire future aspirations. OpenCivics' grant propels the DSS towards a more equitable, just and empowering future, emphasizing creativity and collaboration among stakeholders to drive embodied regenerative change!