Your NameHelen Gordon
Email Addresshelen@kitecreative.co.uk
Cohort AssignmentEurope Summer-Fall 2023, Cohort 2
1. What do you see as your primary work at this stage of your life?

Through Kite ( my company and personally) I want to impact change in the world through Regenerative Design principles, and specifically Regenerative Living. As co-founder of A Design and Build company Kite, concentrating on regenerative interior solutions we are working to a circular economy process and through strategy and design we want to educate clients/ industry/ communities about regenerative design and how to implement it. I want to work on regenerative projects.

2. What role do you see as yours to play?

Impacting change. On a macro scale helping to move from the old capitalistic system to a regenerative one, by being involved in projects that bring about systematic change, eg currently I am on industry steering groups that campaign for change, and community/county groups. I also want to work with other regeneratives on regenerative projects
On a micro scale within my company through consultation, design and creation- by ensuring we follow the circular economy process, design out waste, develop our own biomaterials, develop regenerative interior solutions that are repurpose able. through education - Put on talks, workshops.
Changing company to a. regenerative model and how we could use our company as an example to others of how they can change their business model. (on TH John Fullerton regenerative economics course too)

3. What goals or aims do you have in regard to the above?

To become a regenerative practitioner
Design and consult using regenerative frameworks, including using our framework we have developed
educate others on regeneration
Help on a macro level for regeneration to be used more widely in all we do

4. Where do you feel your next arenas for personal growth are?

Understanding different ways of practising regeneration- unlearning methods I have been taught and new ways of thinking and approach
More practice at meditative techniques
strategy and frameworks thinking

5. And for professional growth?

More leadership opportunities
Working on Regenerative projects both consulting and through design.
How do I find regenerative projects to work on and attract people to work with me

6. What have you invested in to get you where you are?

much education throughout my life- various design courses- textile design degree, MSC in Fashion Marketing (logistics and distribution), Architectural Interior Design Diploma, Circular Economy Course, Goldman Sachs 10ksb small business growth course, various business courses.
Experience - various roles as a designer, product developer, owner of several businesses
Invested in machinery through personal money to buy machinery for Kite our business
Marketing/business purpose course to pivot the business

7. What fields of learning and which thinkers have been important in your life?

my textiles degree- design thinking, patterns.
MSC- strategy, vision
Diploma- interior design principles
Circular economy
One earth Living- Linzi Boyd for Purpose businesses, marketing

Thinkers- Jeremy Lent, Daniel Wahl, Donella Meadows, Bill McDonough, Janine Benyus, Kate Haworth, John Fullerton, Carol Sanford, Christopher Alexander, Jon Alexander, Naomi Klein, Gabor Mate, Deepak Chopra, Gunter Pauli, Polman- Winston, Bruce King, Ken Webster, Leonard Koren, Michael Singer, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rebecca Solnitt, Arundrati Roy, Daniel Pinchbeck, Pre-Raphaelite Mvt including William Morris.

8. Can you frame your philosophy or cosmology of life? What role(s) do humans play in it?

The old mechanistic, reductionist way of thinking is that happiness is attained through accumulating wealth, status, and power and the individual pursuit of well-being should be a foundation of these values, and non-human nature should be exploited for the benefit of humans.

This old consumptive way is not working and is leading to complete system breakdown. An individual can only fully flourish in the context of a society which is itself healthy. By working with nature and recognising its value we can nurture the mutual flourishing of humans and Earth, restoring the wellbeing of people and planet to thrive.

I believe in life centred and regenerative design. Healthy living systems have the capacity to continually generate new sources of life for and within themselves and their environment and humans also have a role in their continuity viability and vitality.

Date CreatedSeptember 12, 2023