Human–Nature
Exploring future relations to nature toward 2045 across scales of agency through design in a cross-cultural context
I.S. van der Klauw (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
M.B. van Dijk – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Society, Culture and Critique)
N.A.L.J. Jacobs – Mentor (TU Delft - Society, Culture and Critique)
Raditya Andrean Saputra – Mentor (Institute of Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics (IBF))
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This graduation project explores how the relationship between society and nature in Lombok might evolve toward 2045, and how design can contribute to shaping this relationship in a culturally sensitive and future-oriented way. Guided by the Vision in Design (ViP) methodology, the project positions design not as problem-solving, but as a means to structure complexity, articulate long-term societal values, and translate them into actionable directions.
The research began by establishing the domain as the evolving relationship between society in Lombok and nature. Initially grounded in coral conservation due to the involvement of IBF, the exploration expanded toward broader human–nature relations, acknowledging the interconnectedness of land, sea, governance, economy, and community life. Through literature research, expert interviews, surveys, and field observations, key contextual factors were identified and structured.
These findings were translated into a 4 × 4 futures framework. The X-axis represents four relational perspectives on nature: Nature as Sacred, Nature as Interdependent System, Nature as Uncontrollable, and Nature as to Be Controlled. The Y-axis represents four scales of agency: community, knowledge, institutional, and global. Together, these dimensions generate sixteen plausible human–nature relations for 2045. For each configuration, probable and preferable futures were articulated, resulting in sixteen societal goals that define value-driven directions for long-term transformation.
The framework was applied as an interactive workshop at Coral Connect, engaging NGOs, policymakers, conservation actors, and local stakeholders. It functioned as both an analytical and dialogue tool, supporting reflection on collective positioning. A Human–Nature booklet was developed to make the framework accessible beyond the workshop setting and to facilitate continued engagement within the organizations.
The sixteen societal goals were clustered into four intervention layers: global (markets, tourism, international influence), institutional (governance and public systems), knowledge (education, knowledge systems and skills), and community (daily life, behaviour and culture). Based on strategic alignment and feasibility, the project focused on the knowledge layer as an entry point for long-term influence.
This resulted in the development of a modular course concept integrated within the existing educational system. Four societal goals were translated into curriculum pillars and embodied in lesson prototypes. The lesson prototypes were tested and evaluated in primary schools in Lombok, to assess their effectiveness and contextual fit. To connect present actions to 2045, three development horizons were articulated, outlining how vision, activities, and collaboration can evolve over time.
The project demonstrates how design can contribute to shaping future human–nature relations by articulating plausible futures, positioning preferable directions, and translating societal values into context-sensitive interventions.