Designing for co-becoming

Toward a relational and pluriversal design ethic

Bibliographic Data

ID22423391
AuthorsJixiang Jiang (0000-0002-1613-1668, Tongji University), Yasuyuki Hayama (0000-0001-6777-616X, Kyushu University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume29
Issue3
Pages700-718
Publication date2026-05-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Design Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1460-6925 • E-ISSN: 1756-3062
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14606925.2025.2603597
OpenAlexW7118167435
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

As ecological and societal crises intensify, a shift in design philosophy is urgently needed—one that moves beyond anthropocentrism and embraces relational, multispecies perspectives. This paper introduces Co-becoming as a relational design framework grounded in Chinese and Japanese ontologies. Rather than viewing design as the imposition of form upon passive matter, Co-becoming reframes design as an attunement to the evolving relational fields of human and more-than-human life. Drawing on East Asian philosophical traditions, the paper outlines a cosmological foundation for rethinking design as a participatory, process-oriented, and ethical practice. In addition, the paper argues for the central role of narrative in paradigm shift. Through worldmaking practice, designing for Co-becoming enables designers to cultivate humility, resonance, and care, engaging multiple species in the co-creation of ethical futures. By integrating East Asian relational worldviews with contemporary design discourse, this study contributes to the development of a pluriversal design ethic.

Design Education and Practice · Embodied and Extended Cognition · Innovative Human-Technology Interaction

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