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.
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:
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.
Discover more about Design for Life in this series of introductory blogs
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.
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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.