Circular design plays a central role on the way to a viable circular economy. In order to provide actors in the product development process with a simple set of rules for the design of circular products, the Institute of Design Research Vienna has developed the Circular Design Rules.

Design Revolution Now! advocates for bold, transformative design practices that address urgent global challenges. It pushes for innovation that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and social impact, aiming to reshape industries and improve lives through responsible, forward-thinking design.

Regenerative design creates systems that restore, renew, and revitalize their own energy sources and materials. It focuses on minimizing environmental impact, enhancing sustainability, and fostering positive interactions between nature and human-made systems for a thriving future.

Tools for the Design Revolution empowers designers with innovative resources to create sustainable, impactful solutions. It provides strategies, techniques, and technologies to drive positive change, enabling a shift towards more ethical, regenerative, and responsible design practices.

Design History explores the evolution of design across time, highlighting key movements, styles, and innovators. It examines how social, cultural, and technological changes have shaped design practices, providing valuable insights into the past to inspire the future of design.

Institute of Design Research Vienna

The non-profit scientific association contributes to interdisciplinary and disciplinary discussions on social and ecological responsibility in design. The IDRV was founded in spring 2008 and carries out research and educational projects ranging from academic contributions to artistic activism.

(3.2) Regenerative Design – The Weltmuseum as a Future Laboratory

Exhibition

Regenerative Design

From 6 February 2026
Weltmuseum Vienna

(1.1) “Design Strategies” by IDRV in the Handbook Circular Economy

Publication

Circular Design Rules

Handbook Circular Economy
Huber-Heim | Dittrich | Schönberg
2026

(3.3) IMAGINE: Coral Reef. Regenerative Design in India

ExhibitionWorkshop

Regenerative Design

6 Feb–24 Feb 2026 Lokayata Art Gallery, New Delhi
9 Apr–4 May 2026 Science Gallery, Bengaluru

(3.6) ReGenerativa at NDU St. Pölten: Designing Regenerative Prosperity

LectureTalk

Regenerative Design

27 Nov 2025
New Design Uniersity

(2.2) Publication Release: DRN!–A Designer's Toolbox for Revolution

Publication

Design Revolution Now!

Friday, 5 December 2025 – 5 PM
University of Applied Arts Vienna, Atrium
Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7, 1030 Vienna

(3.5) Workshop for ReGenerativa at KinderKunstLabor St. Pölten

Workshop

Regenerative Design

19 Nov 2025
KinderKunstLabor St. Pölten

(1.3) Material Shifts: Redesigns from Recyclate

Exhibition

Circular Design Rules

VIENNA DESIGN WEEK
26 Sep – 05 Oct 2025

Wiedener Hauptstraße 52, Vienna

(1.8) CDR Installation at WE/TRANS/FORM

Exhibition

Circular Design Rules

On the Future of Building
6 June 2025 – 25 January 2026
Bundeskunsthalle Bonn

(1.10) Final Report of the Circular Design RTI Project

Publication

Circular Design Rules

Circular Design - Getting from theory into practice

RTI Circular Economy

(3.8) Regenerative Design Lab at Angewandte

Lecture

Regenerative Design

Lecture cooperation with Vitra
summer semester 2025
University for Applied Art Vienna

(1.20) Circular Design Rules V 2.0 web tool

PublicationTool

Circular Design Rules

free of charge
cdr.tools

(3.17) Regenerativ Design Principles

Publication

Regenerative Design

27 April–23 June 2024
Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin