Holistic Design &

its Principles

Holistic Design is a discipline that encompasses any methodology that focuses on the interconnected and interdependent nature of all things to inform the rules and processes of design. 


Models are generated on a foundation of ecocentrism which places everything that is and sustains life, at the centre of the value system. Combining current philosophical, scientific, and energetic understandings of the universe, human-designed systems can be made to comply with the same principles as natural ones, which have the complexity and precision of billions of years of evolution.


Principle of UNITY

Everything is interconnected and interdependent, and as such has purpose, functionality, and a reason to be. Our sustenance and the nature of our experience corresponds directly to the health of the greater whole. 


  • To exist is to have value in and of itself. External value is generated between a minimum of two parties through an exchange of energy. The connections incorporate different roles that carry out various functions throughout each layer of the web of life. 
  • Every connection in the web that is disconnected, removes a set of possibilities. This often directly translates into a loss of health, on the macro and micro levels. 


Principle of RETURN

Nothing should come at a debt. For a system to grow and accrue wealth, it must create value, not loss; this is a prerequisite for growth and ultimately, regeneration.


  • All matter and energy is borrowed. 
  • TAKING or RECEIVING - it is our right as a member of the natural universe to receive from the abundance of nature. Taking what is not given creates a debt that affects the whole system. 


Principle of DYNAMICS

The universe is in a constant state of flux. The only constant is change. Stagnation leads to disease or dysfunction. The easier it is for each part of a system (and the system as a whole) to adapt to change, the stronger and more resilient it becomes.


  • ACCEPT FEEDBACK: The ability to accept feedback is essential for a dynamic  system to maintain equilibrium. To remain dynamic, a constant interplay between the tension of opposites allows the system as a whole to maintain stability. The ability to send, receive and integrate energy in various forms, within and among the individual parts and as a coherent whole, is integral to the life of the system and a vital component of self-regulation.


  • SELF-REGULATING & SELF-ORGANIZING:  Cooperation exists at every level, and even when it appears as competition or opposition, a greater harmony is at play. Conflict at one layer of the web is, in fact, a stabilizing factor towards harmony when viewed from another vantage point. The roles and functions of each member, or part, evolves in concert with every other part. As one population rises, others act like a balancing force, allowing for the system to remain within the range of equilibrium. Even if it is unclear of the immediate purpose of something, the process of evolution remains clear...evolution is co-creation.

Principle of CYCLES

Cycles are recurring patterns in time composed of events or phenomena. The universe is energetic. All energy has a vibration measured in frequency and amplitude which creates cycles. The health and survival of all sentient beings has a direct correlation with the ability to observe, understand, and adapt to the cycles of nature.


Predictive: The cyclical nature of the universe informs its inhabitants of patterns that can be used to understand what has and will happen.


Fractal: The universe is composed of fractals which are recurring patterns that are self-similar across scale. The information of the macro level cycles have a proportional relationship to the micro and vice versa.


Energy management: The output of one part, section, or system is the input of another. The further this principle is repeated, the more energy is recycled and entropy is reduced.


Entropy/Syntropy: Entropy is the amount of chaos, or the loss of energy in a system. Syntropy can be explained as the amount of order or, the ability to retain energy.


Beauty & Harmony: The ability to observe and recognize order and functionality is encoded into DNA and decoded as beauty. When a pattern has resonant functionality, harmony emerges between the frequencies of the observer and the observed and beauty is experienced.

Principle of RESILIENCE

Diversity + Redundancy = Resilience. Diversity is nature's safety net and insurance policy. Every connection in a multi-dimensional web of life has countless links that tether it to the whole. Functional redundancy exists in all known mature ecosystems. As environments change, certain species will boom and others will bust. As long as the ecosystem has a large variance of species which perform similar functions, the overall health of the system continues.

Principle of RECIPROCITY

Reciprocity is a method of exchange that arises within an interdependent system. It incorporates both the ‘pay-it-back’ and ‘pay-it-forward’ methods of exchange, but hinges on the benefits of cooperation creating what can be described as a gift economy. This principle relies on mutualism and a relationship to the whole to allow energy to circulate throughout the system. Everything exists in mutual sustenance. The health and prosperity of one's neighbor species is relational to health and survival rates on both the individual and species level.


Benefits of Cooperation: Nothing exists in isolation. Reciprocity is central in an ecosystem's ability to create abundance. It supports the process of evolution and freedom for a species to transition from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’ states. In the thriving state, life has more resources available to develop new possibilities that bring greater benefits to the system. The healthier each part of the system is, the better off the system is as a whole. Through load sharing, specialization can then take place and develop unique structures for the system to use as building blocks for future generations.



Principle of REGENERATION

The process of life is composed of systems in a constant cycle of creation, preservation, decomposition and re-creation. The process of renewal creates the lifespan and thus, the evolution of the ecosystem.


  • When each of the prior principles is functioning in the positive, the system as a whole is regenerating.
  • When these functions shift from the positive to the negative side of the scale, and more is pulled from the system than is returned, the scale shifts in the direction of degeneration. A system in a degenerative state can only continue its current functionality for as long as the surplus lasts. After which, it will begin to ‘eat away’ at itself, losing functionality or ‘health’ continually. 
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