REGENERATIVE DESIGN RESEARCH
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RESEARCH CONCEPT TITLE
GENERATIVE FUTURES: Design Intelligence for Circular Resilience
RESEARCH FOCUS
This research investigates how generative design methods—rooted in algorithms, systems thinking, and iterative design processes—can act as agents of transformation in confronting an uncertain future. The goal is to reposition design from being reactive to becoming anticipatory and regenerative, fostering sustainable systems that align with circular economy principles.
BACKGROUND & CONTEXT
As humanity faces a web of converging crises—climate change, material scarcity, waste overflow, and social inequity—traditional design thinking often falls short. MM-O-DD's mind-shifting research agenda proposes design not only as a tool of expression but as a mode of inquiry, capable of modeling, simulating, and forecasting alternative futures.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
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How can generative design methods be adapted to reinforce circular economic systems?
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In what ways do these methods facilitate scalable, local-to-global sustainability solutions?
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Can computational creativity enhance material efficiency, equity, and ecosystem integration in design?
OBJECTIVES
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Develop a framework linking generative design to circularity, emphasizing regenerative outcomes.
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Explore new material ecologies, fabrication techniques, and digital-to-physical workflows.
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Examine case studies across architecture, product design, fashion, and urban systems.
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Engage local Detroit communities and BIPOC creators in co-design experiments that prototype circular micro-economies.
METHODOLOGY
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Studio Labs: Workshops bringing together designers, engineers, and community members to explore parametric and algorithmic design tools.
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Scenario Prototyping: Use AI-generated simulations and digital twins to explore reuse cycles, product lifespans, and cradle-to-cradle principles.
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Narrative Futures: Pair data modeling with speculative design to communicate scenarios that make sustainability feel both urgent and achievable.
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Bio-informed Design: Integrate biomimicry and nature-inspired algorithms into generative strategies.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
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An open-access Generative Circularity Toolkit for designers and educators.
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An MM-O-DD-curated research exhibition showcasing prototypes, materials, and models that communicate sustainable design narratives.
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A data-rich design atlas documenting the shift from linear to circular processes across disciplines.
SIGNIFICANCE
This project will position MM-O-DD as a thought leader at the intersection of design innovation, sustainability, and public engagement. It seeks to reframe design’s role in shaping systems of production and consumption, making visible the invisible forces shaping our futures—and equipping designers to intervene meaningfully.




PROPOSE A RESEARCH PROJECT
The MM-O-DD Research Department is an open platform for the academic and design-related fields of study to propose a research project which would be funded by the grants, philanthropic dollars or by the researcher themselves.