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 our Design for Life mission by reading this blog series
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 since 1754. 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 global network of changemakers enabling people, places and the planet to flourish in harmony. RSA Fellows have been at the forefront of significant social impact since 1754. We invite you to be part of this change.
Watch a Design for Life event
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Design for Life: Two years on
Fellowship events
The Steps, RSA House, 8 John Adam Street, WC2N 6EZ
Explore with us how particular perspectives on challenge and change can help build flourishing futures for people, places and the planet.
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Design for Life: Social connections
Fellowship events / Design for Life series
The Coffee House (RSA House) and Online via Zoom
Ollie Burrows, Interim Director of Research and Learning, will share how US research is showing the economic benefits of cross class connections, and how we are replicating this in the UK to surface new approaches to social mobility grounded in community needs.
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RSA Fellowship Townhall
Fellowship events
Online
CEO Andy Haldane will be answering a few questions from Fellows, we will be discussing a wide range of issues, and providing updates on our Capabilities for Life intervention.
Design for Life related content
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Nature takes centre stage at RSA President’s Lecture
News
Vicky Kington
HRH The Princess Royal joined more than 80 guests to hear from an expert panel discussing rewilding and other nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises.
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Benjamin Franklin Medal
The Benjamin Franklin Medal is one of the RSA’s highest honours awarded to contemporary individuals whose work reflects the values of inquiry, civic empowerment, and a desire to improve society.
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Student Design Awards 2024: 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.