Design for Life

Design for Life Our mission

Economic, social and environmental crises have placed our world in a fragile, unbalanced and degenerative state.

Our mission is to enable people, places and the planet to flourish in harmony.

Our vision is for a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and contribute to more resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative futures.

How are we achieving this?

We believe everyone has the potential and creativity to effect change.

We work with people throughout their lives, and across society, to achieve regenerative impact; from children and young people to entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities.

Our approach to change involves many different disciplines and perspectives.

Our work focuses on three areas. These are:

Building capabilities

Change starts with supporting people to learn and lead. At the heart of Design for Life is the commitment to build the skills, connections and confidence people need to fulfil their potential.

Growing hubs

People effect change by coming together. Design for Life grows the connections that organisations, communities, industries and regions need in order to flourish.

Developing infrastructure

We are aiming for systemic, long-term change. Design for Life develops and influences the conditions needed to enable people, communities and organisations to regenerate our world.

Why us?

We are unique. We don’t just generate ideas; we act on them. The RSA has been turning world-leading ideas into world-changing actions for more than 260 years. Our research and innovation has changed the hearts and minds of generations of people. Central to all our work are our mission-aligned Fellows; a global network of innovators and changemakers.

Explore our Circle community to engage with our work.

Engage with our Design for Life mission

Are you a Fellow? Be part of our Circle community and help us shape a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and contribute to more resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative futures.

Smiling women in an office

RSA Fellowship

The RSA Fellowship is a unique global network of changemakers enabling people, places and the planet to flourish. RSA Fellows have been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. We invite you to be part of this change.

Watch a Design for Life event

  • RSA Fellowship Townhall: Global Showcase

    Fellowship Event

    Online

    Join the RSA Global community as we share more about the RSA’s global activities, strategic priorities and upcoming opportunities for Fellows to get involved in shaping the RSA’s approach to global impact.

  • Where next for business?

    RSA Event / Video / Online

    RSA House and online via YouTube

    Alan Jope, outgoing CEO of Unilever, discusses the need for a system shift in business practice to unlock potential and support a regenerative economy.

  • Design for Life: unlocking the potential of cities

    Fellowship Event / Coffee House / Online

    The Coffee House (RSA House) and Online via Zoom

    Amy Gandon (Head of Policy and Participation) and Tom Stratton (Chief of Staff) will introduce the aims and activities of the RSA-led UK Urban Futures Commission, an ambitious enquiry to unlock the potential of the UK’s cities.

Design for Life related content

  • Regenerative capitalism: a new era of economics

    Blog

    Andy Haldane Alexa Clay

    It’s time to move to a new flavour of capitalism that puts people, place and planet first. RSA chief executive Andy Haldane and RSA US director Alexa Clay discuss the benefits of regenerative capitalism.

  • Student Design Awards 2023: meet the shortlist

    News

    Aoife O'Doherty

    The RSA Student Design Awards 2023 shortlist has been announced. Across nine briefs, 70 students are working to bring positive social change to people, place and planet.

  • The young changemakers of the RSA Fellowships

    Blog

    Maeve Devers

    We're shining a light on these young Fellows and their passion, knowledge, creativity, and drive to deliver social change.

Past RSA projects

Explore our recent work that brought us to this point.