Resilience Through Inclusive and Biophilic Design

Emerging research reveals that social belonging is fundamental to meeting even our most basic needs like food, shelter, and safety. This insight reshapes the role of the design professional: first and foremost, our designs must foster belonging. This session explores how integrating biophilic, regenerative, and universal design principles can create inclusive, resilient spaces that nurture mental and physical well-being while advancing equity and sustainability. Attendees will gain practical insights and techniques to design environments that promote belonging across diverse settings--workplaces, housing, public spaces, and more. We will illustrate how centering belonging in design has the potential to create sustainable, trauma-informed spaces that support community resilience and individual self-actualization. Participants will learn actionable techniques to create spaces that are both sustainable and authentically human-centered.