Our goal is to transform human activity from a linear, wasteful process to one that is restorative and life-affirming. We believe that business and industry can become part of this solution while adding value to services and products.

Since design is a signal of intentions, it follows that the questions we ask have a profound affect on the outcome. We encourage a different way of thinking about our relationship with the natural world.

How do human-made systems compare to natural systems?

• Nature can create pure air and water; store rainwater; produce its own food; build rich soil; store, convert, and use solar energy; provide diverse habitat; moderate local weather; and inspire us with great beauty.

Do our own designs and activities work this effectively?

• In nature there is no waste. Where humans think in terms of linear processes, Nature works in cycles. Nothing goes to waste, everything has a use.

How can we be better stewards of our planet?

• Begin with an understanding of nature's immutable laws. Aside from gravity, which we have no choice but to obey, there are others which we try to ignore or flout. All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. (from Ernest Callenbach's Laws of Ecology)

This transformation starts with a vision of the future, for the organization, for its clients or customers, for its employees and stakeholders. From there, the components of the process look something like this:

• Whole-Systems Thinking
  Actively consider interconnections between systems and activities. Integrated solutions address multiple problems simultaneously.
  
  
• Front-Loaded Design
  Consider resource efficiency & environmental impacts from the start, not as afterthoughts.
  
  
• End-Use / Least-Cost Considerations
  Achieve greatest benefits at least first cost in financial, social, and environmental terms.
  
  
• Teamwork
  Move away from a linear decision-making process to active engagement of all parties working together.

We aim to take put the brakes on unthinking wastefulness, to bring human activity into compliance with natural laws, and ultimately to restore and regenerate damaged ecosystems. We can use our intelligence to increase both the general well-being of humankind and the capacity of earth to support life. We think this is a goal worthy of our species.

As the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad weather - only inappropriate clothing.