CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
REGENERATIVE RESPONSIBILITY IN ACTION: CO-CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN TIMBER COMMUNITIES OF QUERÉTARO
Gutierrez Contreras, Luis Miguel; Cobreros Rodriguez, Carlos
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
Page(s):
403 - 408
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
This paper presents the first stage of a pedagogical and design-based experience developed with timber communities in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Queretaro, Mexico. The project is grounded in a methodology of Relational Design framed by the principles of Regenerative Responsibility, focusing on building mutual understanding between students and communities. The process explored the early phases of a five-step methodology: Sensitize, Connect, Imagine, Co-create, and Strengthen. For this stage, the emphasis was placed on Sensitizing participants through immersive field experiences and on Connecting + Imagining together with community members, exploring new relational and regenerative futures around the local use of wood as a raw material. By activating a space of knowledge exchange, the project allowed for the recognition of traditional practices and ethical relationships with the forest. Students engaged in collective reflection and situated learning, understanding the socio-environmental complexities of the territory while envisioning possible futures that connect people, nature, and technology. This approach reinforces design as an eco-social practice, and opens possibilities for innovation rooted in ethical awareness, cultural connection, and circular economic thinking. It also invites a shift in the designer’s role, from creator to connector, highlighting the importance of reciprocity, listening, and learning with others.
Keywords:
