FAQs

Understanding ALCD

What does “life-centric” actually mean in practice?

Life-centric design expands the focus beyond humans to include all forms of life, ecological systems, and cultural relations. In practice, this means design decisions are made with consideration for (and in partnership with) land, non-human actors, spiritual life, and community well-being; not just efficiency, profit, or aesthetics.

Why is ALCD rooted in African histories and knowledge systems?

Africa holds deep archives of design and creation at large, from vernacular architecture to ecological knowledge systems and cultural expressions etc. ALCD draws on these living histories to propose futures that are regenerative and contextually grounded. By rooting design in African epistemologies, ALCD resists universalisms and offers frameworks that are relational, plural, and deeply specific.

Is ALCD the same as sustainable design or green design?

Not exactly. While ALCD aligns with sustainability, it goes further by embedding ethics of reciprocity, cultural continuity, and regenerative futures. Green design often focuses on reducing harm; ALCD is about actively restoring systems and nurturing interdependence.

How does ALCD compare to Human-Centered Design (HCD)?

Human-Centered Design places the human at the center of problem-solving. ALCD broadens this to “life-centeredness,” acknowledging that human flourishing is inseparable from land, community, and more-than-human ecologies. In doing so, ALCD complements HCD in recognising the place humans play within the larger ecosystem, but corrects its blind spots of focusing solely on humans.

Engaging with ALCD

Can I use ALCD in my own design projects or do I need permission?

Yes, ALCD is designed to be engaged with widely, and with care. Anyone may use its principles as a framework, but attribution and contextual respect are essential. This is an ongoing body of work with custodianship responsibilities.

Are there toolkits, methods, or templates for applying ALCD?

We are figuring out what this could look like, so it’s being explored and we welcome suggestions / reflections. That said, the principles are intentionally open-ended so that they can be adapted to different contexts rather than rigidly prescribed.

Does ALCD require me to work in Africa, or can I apply it elsewhere?

You can absolutely apply ALCD globally. While its foundations are African, its principles of interdependence, land as co-designer, and regenerative co-creation are relevant across geographies. In fact, ALCD explicitly engages in Global Majority dialogue, meaning it shares affinities with indigenous, decolonial, and community-based practices worldwide.

Why should someone outside Africa pay attention to ALCD?

Because the challenges we face from the climate crisis, to inequity, to extractive economies are global, and African knowledges offer tested, relational responses. ALCD contributes to the pluriversal turn in design, offering frameworks that are grounded yet adaptable. It is not “African only,” it is African-led and globally relevant.

Who can I collaborate with if I want to pilot ALCD in my community or organisation?

We welcome partnerships across design, education, cultural, and policy sectors. To begin, you can reach out to us at swangs@africanlifecentricdesign.com

IRL APPLICABILITY

Are there courses, workshops, or academic programs on ALCD?

Yes. We run teaching labs, university partnerships, and community workshops. Just reach out to us here as you wish to engage on how this could look in partnership with you.

How can I cite ALCD in my research or academic work?

The website can be cited, alongside the authors, editors and translation team where applicable.

How does ALCD apply to architecture, product design, or digital design?

In architecture, ALCD emphasises land-based co-design and ecological materiality. In product design, it values durability, repair, resource mindfulness, and cultural specificity. In digital design, it considers data as relational, and the cloud as a real life infrastructure built on the land. As such, it advocates for digital systems that are culturally, communally and ecologically regenerative.

Can ALCD be used in policy or government planning?

Yes. ALCD is a framework for rethinking governance and planning by centering communal interdependence, ecological responsibility, cultural grounding and wider public socio-economic benefit. Policies informed by ALCD would embed long-term resilience, rather than short-term efficiency.

How does ALCD deal with technology and innovation?

ALCD challenges the assumption that “innovation” must be high-tech. Life is the greatest technology. It values low-tech /
Lo—TEK, demotic, and traditional ecological knowledge as the legitimate, sophisticated technologies they are.

Contribution

Can students or young designers contribute ideas or projects?

Absolutely. ALCD thrives on collective imagination and welcomes contributions. Students and practitioners can submit projects or reflections for possible inclusion on our site.

Is there a network or community of practice for ALCD?

Yes. We are building a distributed network of designers, educators, and communities who practice ALCD principles. As this becomes formalised, we will share more information. Otherwise, get in touch here to connect with us / express interest to be a part.

How are contributions acknowledged or credited?

We operate with a principle of custodianship and reciprocity. Contributors are acknowledged by name, and projects remain owned by their creators.

How does ALCD ensure inclusivity across Africa’s and the Global Majority’s cultural and linguistic diversity?

ALCD is translated into the six African Union official languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili), with ongoing work in First Nations African languages and more. Inclusivity is not only about translation. The translation exercise offers a window into what language exists / doesn’t exist to describe design and creation practices and foresight perspectives, beyond that which we know in English. This allows a window into further understanding how to build the frameworks for the communities we’re looking to advance, rather than perpetuating the current linguistic bias of academic engagements being in Western languages only. Ultimately, this is about ensuring multiple knowledge traditions are in dialogue.

ALCD FutureS

Who “owns” ALCD?

No single individual “owns” ALCD. It is a collective intellectual project stewarded by a team of researchers, designers, and practitioners.

How do you prevent ALCD from being co-opted or diluted?

Through clear principles, transparent custodianship, and ongoing critique. We also foreground attribution and resist extractive appropriation by building strong governance.

Is ALCD open-source or protected intellectual property?

The principles are open for use with attribution, which ensures integrity and prevents misuse.

How does ALCD evolve over time, or rather, is it fixed or adaptable?

ALCD is a living framework. While its core driving intentions remain constant, applications and interpretations will evolve as communities, environments, and knowledge systems do.