Created as part of the MA Service Design Collaboration Unit, this group project explored how designers might operate as regenerative changemakers within contexts of systemic degrowth. Using Ruth Levitas' Utopia as Method as a framework, we investigated composting as a metaphor and more-than-human system for understanding care, repair, and cyclical transformation. Through collaborative research and critical reflection, the project culminated in a tangible framework that reimagined changemaking as an embodied, relational, and regenerative practice.
Institution
MA Service Design, University of the Arts London
Course Unit
Collaborative Practice
Year
2025
Project Context
Postgraduate Project
Collaborators
Alisa Mahat, Diksha Ashok,
“Until you make the unconscious conscious,
it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
Carl Jung
Being the Phoenix is a framework for the inner development of individual change-makers, built on the principles of transformation, renewal, and interconnectedness, inspired by the More-than-Human system of composting. It envisions growth as a cyclical process, where breakdown and regeneration are not endpoints but essential stages of evolution.
Just as composting turns decay into nourishment, Being the Phoenix embraces the idea that personal and collective change arises from the ability to let go, decompose outdated structures, and cultivate new possibilities. Through this framework, individuals are invited to engage in reflective practices, embrace impermanence, and channel transformation into meaningful action.
At its core, Being the Phoenix is a call to rethink the way we approach change; not as a linear journey, but as a dynamic, living cycle of sacrifice, integration, and rebirth.
The sentiment of ‘Change yourself to change the world’ is often echoed repeatedly in the context of paving way for radical change in the world, and thus each of us as individuals, become change makers.
Being the Phoenix is a framework for inner development of the individual change maker, that fundamentally incorporates the principles of renewal, transformation and embeds the cyclical nature of Composting, which acted as the More-than-Human system that we learnt from, and extrapolated some key principles that guided the making of this framework.
Being the Phoenix is an invitation to slow down, to look inwards, to be a part of the cycle to break it, and release what doesn’t serve you to experience catharsis by burning away what you wish to release in order to usher in, to nourish, to pave way for new growth.
Being the Phoenix draws inspiration from the More-than-Human system of composting to identify key principles to inform a framework to support the inner change of a ‘change maker’. They key theme of transformation was the constant recurring quality through the interactions with the More-than-Human system, and this stemmed from the identified principles, cyclical, transformative, liberation, unhurried, and nurturing.
Just as composting turns organic matter into nourishment through decomposition, so too can our internal ‘fire’, that is, our pent-up emotions, frustrations, and burdens, to be processed and transformed into something generative.
The project presents a framework that guides individuals through a transformation by cathartic release, redirecting energy in a way that fosters personal renewal and contributes to the world around them.
Preface
Much like the cyclical nature of composting and the life cycle of fauna and flora, energy merely shifts from one host to another; it cannot be created nor destroyed.
From waking up to unsettling global events to absorbing the frustration of a loved one in a bad mood, we often go through our days unconsciously collecting negative energy. This energy accumulates, feeding an inner fire that, if left unchecked, may eventually erupt in unintended ways, transferring the burden onto another. Without an intentional outlet, we risk perpetuating this endless cycle of emotional transference, passing on negativity rather than transforming it.
More-than-Human System: Composting
Composting is a fundamental process that embodies transformation, renewal, and interconnectedness within the more-than-human system. It is not merely about decomposing waste but about participating in a cyclical exchange where organic matter is broken down and repurposed to nourish new life. This process extends beyond environmental sustainability, reflecting deeper social, cultural, and philosophical dimensions.
Composting is more than a biological process; it embodies the cyclical nature of life, where decay feeds renewal. It is inherently transformative, turning waste into nourishment, grief into wisdom, and endings into beginnings. Through this process, we experience liberation, releasing what no longer serves us, making space for new possibilities.
Unlike the immediacy of modern life, composting is unhurried, requiring patience and trust in gradual change. This slowness is not a drawback but a fundamental aspect of deep transformation. Lastly, composting is nurturing, an intentional act of care that fosters regeneration and not only of soil but also of relationships, ideas, and emotions.
By embracing these principles, we reconnect with nature's rhythms, finding renewal in both material and metaphysical cycles.
Key Principles
Cyclical
Natural cycle of nature
Transformative
Changing forms
Liberation
Releasing and letting go
Unhurried
A process that takes time
Nurturing
A concerted effort to feed back to earth
Parallels in Everyday Lives
Energy Conservation: energy is neither created nor destroyed
"Rome wasn't built in a day": the need for time to create great things
Abrahamic religious texts: The creation of man from clay/mud, and returning back into the earth (burial) upon death
Indic religious texts: karmic retribution and consequences
Social Innovation and Personal Growth: Breaking down existing believes to open to new commentary, conversations and critique
Sociocultural Anthropology: Ever-evolving language, culture, and knowledge that shaped us through the times
The Framework
Transformation is not a moment but a process. It is an ongoing cycle of reflection, release, and renewal. Being the Phoenix provides a structured framework that supports inner work, helping individuals navigate their emotional landscapes through symbolic action.
By engaging in intentional reflection and embodied practice, participants can transform emotional weight into growth, much like composting organic matter into fertile soil.
WHY
Innerwork for Transformation
True change begins from within. Being the Phoenix draws on inner work as a critical part of transformation, offering a structured way to process emotions, release burdens, and create space for new perspectives. Just as composting turns decay into nourishment, inner work allows us to convert past struggles into wisdom and strength.
WHEN
Habitual Practice
Make this exercise a habitual practice that you integrate into your lifestyle. It is important to pause and reflect every now and then to ground yourself and regulate your emotions.
WHAT
Reflective Shadow Work and Somatic Experiencing for Psycho-Physical Awareness
This framework integrates reflective shadow work and somatic experiencing to address the emotional and physical dimensions of transformation. Participants engage in a guided process of identifying, externalising, and symbolically releasing emotions, creating a tangible shift in their perception and state of being. By merging cognitive awareness with embodied experience, Being the Phoenix offers a holistic approach to emotional renewal.
What You’ll Need
This practice is simple, requiring only a few materials. Focus on intention over perfection as transformation comes from within. Do not overthink the materials. The emphasis should be on your inner work.
PLACE
A Quiet Space
Find a peaceful environment where you can focus without distractions. This could be indoors or outdoors, wherever you feel most connected to yourself.
MINDSET
Desire for Transformation
Come with an open heart and a willingness to reflect. This is a practice of release and renewal. Embrace the process.
MATERIALS
Paper
Thin, uncoated, and biodegradable. Notebook sized preferably, but use what you already have on hand.
Writing Tools (Optional)
Have a pen or pencil if you wish to write down your thoughts.
Seeds, Grains, Nuts
You will only need about a tablespoon amount. Use wildlife-friendly grains and nuts that can be eaten as food. Make sure that the seeds used are not an invasive species.
Instructions
This framework is a meditative and intentional process designed to transmute internal negativity into outward regeneration.
The process guides individuals through a transformative cycle, from identifying inner burdens, focusing on release, burning away the weight of emotions, and ultimately nurturing new growth, symbolising renewal and emotional liberation.
1
Pause and Reflect
Identifying the Fire
Begin by taking the time to pause and be connected with your body, mind, and soul. Find a quiet spot and search deep within to identify what you want to let go. You can write down the thoughts, emotions, or experiences that weigh you down on a piece of paper. Be honest and unfiltered; this is an act of acknowledgment and release.
2
Forming Intentions
Focusing on the Fire
It is the time for you to be intentional about what you want to release. Focus on how it has made you feel, and be aware of the pressure it has built inside of you. Reach out for some seeds and imagine transfering all the negative energy you want to release into them. Fold them into your paper, as tightly as you would like. Fold it until you feel ready to let go.
3
Release
Burning the Fire
Release your energy (seeds) in a way you feel suitable. Repeatedly slamming the paper into the ground, burying it, tearing it apart, dance around. Let the seeds disperse into the world and transform into something beautiful. Bask in the cathartic liberation.
4
Transformation
Fire to Ashes to Growth
Leave behind the old and walk away renewed. Let the seeds feed the wildlife or be new growth. This has nourished the earth as much as it has nourished you.
Instructions
This process guides individuals through a transformative cycle—from identifying inner burdens, focusing on release, burning away the weight of emotions, and ultimately nurturing new growth—symbolizing renewal and emotional liberation.
Shadow Work to Venture into Your Unconscious
Being on a Consciousness Path
Inner Work Exploration
Hidden Areas of the Human Psyche
Embodied Practice for Emotional Regulation and Grounding
Psycho-Physical Awareness
Physical Sensory Activities
Being Intentional
Somatic Experiencing and Increased Mind and Body Connection
Bodily Movements
Acknowledgement
Energy and Tension Release
Practicing Silliness for Self-Generated Cognition
Letting Your Mind Wander
Being in a Present State
Meditating & Breating
