Decentering Design

About
Decentering Design explores more-than-human theory and practice in the context of design. Through our projects - design, artistic and research - we question the worldview as we know it and offer insights, outlooks and strategies to design for a more equitable world.


People
 Bert De Roo
bert.deroo@hogent.be

Giliam Ganzevles
giliam.ganzevles@hogent.be

Jo Boonen
jo.boonen@hogent.be
ResearchIntermediate Zones

2024-2028
Artistic Research Project
KASK & Conservatory HOGENT Howest
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R2D2

2025-2028
PWO-Funded Research Project
KASK & Conservatory HOGENT Howest
R2D2 continues the work of Decentering Design, this time focusing on landscape architecture. Working on an urban fringe site through a living lab methodology and in collaborating with six architectural offices, we’ll take a closer look at how design and design processes shape the more-than-human landscape. Together, we’ll question the role of the designer, rethink the tools we use, and explore how stories, games, and rituals can bring more-than-human realities to the center of the design process.    
Decentering Design

2020-2025
PWO-Funded Research Project
KASK & Conservatory HOGENT Howest
Howest University of Applied Sciences

This project developed a framework to decenter the human within design processes and situates design within the socio-ecological community of its surroundings. Rather than treating other-than-humans as passive background, the work questions our dualistic worldview and acknowledges reciprocal relations and shared agency. Through iterative real-world testing, the framework materialised in workshops for spatial, artistic, and design practices, as well as an educational program within the School of Arts. The project resulted among others in the publication ‘Decentering Design – Practice in a More-than-Human World.
Papers / Publications / ArticlesDe wolf weet nog niet dat de mens meer van pony's dan van schapen houdt
Article
Deliège G., (2025, August 28). De wolf weet nog niet dat de mens meer van pony's dan van schapen houdt. De Standaard. https://www.archined.nl/2025/08/landschapsliefde/

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Landschapsliefde
Article
Boonen, J., & De Roo, B. (2025, August 26). Landschapsliefde. Archined. https://www.archined.nl/2025/08/landschapsliefde/

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Decentering Design –
Practice in a More-than-Human World
Publication
Ganzevles, G., & De Roo, B. (Eds.). (2025, March). Decentering Design – Practice in a More-than-Human World. Art Paper Editions. ISBN 978-9464775853

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Towards Intermediate Zones: Artefacts of the Umwelt Design Approach
Paper
De Roo, Bert & Ganzevles, Giliam. (2024). Towards Intermediate Zones: Artefacts of the Umwelt Design Approach. 10.63442/LLJN6584. 

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Een stem voor plant en dier op de Arsenaalsite
Article
De Roo, B. & Deliège, G. (2023, September 14). Een stem voor plant en dier op de Arsenaalsite. Onrust Magazine.

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The Umwelt-sketch as More-than-human Design Methodology: Decentering the design process from human-centered towards more-than-human-centered
Paper
De Roo, Bert & Ganzevles, Giliam. (2023). The Umwelt-sketch as More-than-human Design Methodology: Decentering the design process from human-centered towards more-than-human-centered. 203-206. 10.1145/3563703.3596628. 

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Workshops / Talks / ExhibitionsDecentering Design: Practice in a More-than-Human World
Lecture - 02 October 2025
Symposium Intelligence Beyond Human, FH Vorarlberg, Dornbirn, AU.

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Strategies for Decentering Design
Lecture - 26 September 2025
Archi-Tree-Tecture, Lithuanian Pavillion, Venice Biennale, Venice, IT.

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Reflective Practice for More-than-Human Perspectives in Design
Workshop - 26 September 2025
Archi-Tree-Tecture, Lithuanian Pavillion, Venice Biennale, Venice, IT.

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Meertalig Landschap
Workshop - 07 July 2025
Toekomstatelier: Meer-dan-menselijke perspectieven in landschapsarchitectuur, Blikveld VZW, Industriemuseum Gent, Ghent, BE. [link]
Disobedient Bodies, Thinking and Acting Beyond AnthropocentrismCollective Book Launch - 27 May 2025
Kunsthal Gent, Ghent, BE.

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Decentering Design PerspectivesWorkshop - 20 May 2025
Postgraduate Space & Service Design, Thomas More, Mechelen, BE.


Decentering Design: Practice in a More-than-Human WorldLecture - 27 February 2025
UX Ghent - Planet Centric Design, KASK & Conservatory, Ghent, BE.

[link]Decentering Design: Practice in a More-than-Human WorldLecture - 16 December 2024
UHasselt - Faculty Architecture and Art, Hasselt, BE.

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Decentering Design - Practice in a More-than-Human WorldPresentation - 04 October 2024
These Sites are (Not) Vacant! Rubber Boots Methods for Researching the Living City, Seminar Research Methods for the Living City,  Faculty of Architecture, KU Leuven, Evere, Brussels, BE.

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Decentering Design Perspectives Through the UmweltWorkshop - 15-17 May 2024
P/References of Design, Cumulus Conference, MOME, Budapest, HU.

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Towards Intermediate Zones: Artefacts of the Umwelt Design ApproachPaper Presentation - 15-17 May 2024
P/References of Design, Cumulus Conference, MOME, Budapest, HU.

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Decentering DesignLecture - 23 November 2023
Design Dialogues, Design × More-than-Human, Design Museum Gent, Ghent, BE.

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The Umwelt-sketch as More-than-human Design Methodology: Decentering the design process from human-centered towards more-than-human-centeredPaper Presentation - 10-14 July 2023
ACM DIS23: Rebuilding & Resilience, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

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Lessons from the Arsenaalsite - Reflecting on the Minor Programme Embassy : More-than-HumanPresentation - 25 April 2023
TUSSENTIJD ALS LABO: Wat de Arsenaalsite kan leren over natuurinclusieve gebiedsontwikkeling, KASK & Conservatory, Ghent, BE.

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AwardsShortlistedHenry van de Velde Awards
Category Design Research

MentionsEen nieuw perspectief in design: de mens niet langer centraal  Blog Howest University of Applied Sciences

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Last Updated 24.10.31