Designing Health

Documenting social, cultural and ecological aspects of vernacular design practice inspired by traditional medicinal knowledge.

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Long description

“Designing Health” is a project by Haenke, an interdisciplinary research studio investigating the relationships between people and plants. Grounded at the intersection of biodesign and traditional medicine, it leverages vernacular knowledge for healthcare innovations, emphasising how design can be a conduit for enhancing health outcomes through sustainable, evidence-based approaches rooted in ancient wisdom.

In the midst of the multiple crises our societies are currently undergoing, it is increasingly important that design joins forces with science in order to develop new methodologies and practical frameworks to address current challenges related to the loss of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. While traditional communities safeguard 80% of the world’s biodiversity, they are on the frontline of the effects of climate change. What lessons can we learn from Indigenous communities to reshape our understanding of the natural world? And can we design a truly “healthy” product that heals the planet and those who inhabit it?