Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Civic Design for the Next Seven Generations—A Discussion on Sacred Civics
Summary
In Sacred Civics: Building Seven Generation Cities, Jayne Engle and Tanya Chung-Tiam-Fook assemble visions for how spirituality and sacred values are essential for reimagining how we live, organize and govern ourselves, determine and distribute wealth, inhabit and design cities, and construct relationships with others and nature. Join us for a discussion with Jayne and Tanya on what it looks like to design for the next seven generations. Optional: read Sacred Civics: Building Seven Generation Cities in print or open access!
Key Insights
-
•
Sacred civics calls for holistic urban planning that integrates spiritual, ecological, and social dimensions.
-
•
The seven generation principle urges decision-makers to consider impacts on people seven generations into the future.
-
•
Hybrid governance models can bridge existing government institutions with innovative, participatory civic assemblies.
-
•
Cities are key sites for transformational change, often overlooked in global climate and energy discussions.
-
•
Current governmental institutions are largely structured around colonial logics and short-termism, necessitating systemic reform.
-
•
Participatory social infrastructure enables marginalized communities to exercise agency in shaping their environments.
-
•
Networks of cities provide political cover and shared learning opportunities to advance long-term sustainability principles.
-
•
Indigenous prophecies and philosophies offer profound guidance for contemporary urban and environmental stewardship.
-
•
Innovative projects like micro treaties with the Earth and food forest construction exemplify seven generation thinking in action.
-
•
Legal frameworks like the Wales Act embed sustainable development as an organizing principle for governments.
Notable Quotes
"We are all multitudes of identities and experiences, far beyond what any screen can show."
"Cities are not at the heart of global climate discussions, yet they hold tremendous opportunity for change."
"Sacred civics requires us to hold higher order accountabilities to ecosystems and future generations."
"The seventh generation principle calls for long-term decision making that transcends self-interest."
"Hybrid governance models could include civic assemblies that represent future generations, led by a mayor for the future."
"Participatory social infrastructure must be radically inclusive, decolonizing, and generative for communities to flourish."
"Proofs of possibility, not just experiments, are essential to demonstrate viable pathways for systemic transformation."
"The path of the eagle is technological growth without wisdom, while the condor represents spiritual respect for life."
"Groupings and networks of cities create political cover and co-learning spaces necessary for innovation."
"We need to hospice and compost broken systems to transition toward regenerative, people-driven urban futures."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The future of work is about making the user the hero—humans and machines working together."
Lavy Kumar Kat Temple Shan Sebastian Tara Jensen Jenn ChouFuture of Work
June 9, 2021
"Design and research at Compass have become so integrated that we become these powerful partners driving the product vision."
Andreas Huebner Amy Takata Craig BrookesWhat Is It Like To Be Part of The UX Team at Compass?
March 11, 2021
"Regular surveys showed teaching quality mattered 11%, but logistic regression revealed it actually represents 77% of the decision."
Ricardo MartinsUnlocking the power of advanced quantitative methods
March 12, 2025
"Learning invalidates being right as the currency of research and product decisions."
Monty HammontreeThe Future of UX Research
December 3, 2020
"The designers started to send notes of thank you to the ex members of the design ops team for making their life easier."
Benjamin RealShowing the Value of DesignOps by Not Having a DesignOps Team
October 21, 2020
"Adoption is crucial; build your community early by involving them in co-design and pilots."
Kate TowseyAsk Me Anything (AMA) with Kate Towsey
April 2, 2025
"Trust is built by showing you’re there to help make them succeed, not just push your agenda."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"There isn’t necessarily a conflict between security and accessibility; it’s a matter of thoughtful design."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
March 28, 2023
"Hover is very difficult for users who use switch systems or head mice because they can only click or not click and have trouble holding steady to hover."
Sam ProulxPrototype Reviews, People With Disabilities, and You
October 1, 2021
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
What metadata should be included in research reports to support future search and AI interrogation?
How can measuring team behaviors instead of just results improve trust and performance in design ops?
What alternative decision-making structures support more equitable power sharing beyond majority voting?