A Day of Insight, Innovation, and Collaboration
On Thursday 27th February, the Barbican Creative Hub and Lincoln Arts Centre hosted Future Perspectives 2025, a one-day conference exploring creative responses to the climate crisis. The event brought together thought leaders from across the creative industries to discuss sustainability, circular design, and regenerative practices.
With a programme full of inspiring keynotes and insightful discussions, the conference aimed to spark conversation, and drive action.
Opening Keynote: Designing Out Waste & The Circular Economy
The day began with an introduction from Ben Anderson, Creative and Executive Director at Lincoln Arts Centre, who welcomed the first keynote speaker, Tansy Robertson-Fall, Senior Design Manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Tansy opened with an uplifting message of hope, sharing examples of environmental progress worldwide. She highlighted the restoration of 130,000 hectares of mangroves in the Philippines, which now absorb 3 million tons of CO2 per year, and the ongoing recovery of the ozone layer, projected to return to its pre-1980s state by 2066.
She introduced key circular economy principles:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials
- Regenerate natural systems
Tansy emphasised the role of the fashion industry, where clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2015. She highlighted the need for circular business models, design innovation, and infrastructure shifts to reduce environmental impact. She also introduced the Circular Design for Food Framework, showing how ingredient selection and sourcing can contribute to a regenerative food system.
Tansy closed her keynote with a thought-provoking reflection from her colleague Rebecca Solnit:
“You want tomorrow to be different than today, and it may seem the same, or worse, but next year will be different than this one because those tiny increments added up. The tree today looks a lot like the tree yesterday, and so does the baby. A lot of change is undramatic growth, transformation, or decay—or rather, its timescale means the drama might not be perceptible.”
Keynote: Inclusive Design & Social Impact
Following Tansy’s keynote, Larry Botchway, Co-Founder of POoR Collective, took the stage to discuss how architecture and design can better serve diverse communities.
Larry shared statistics highlighting the lack of diversity in the architecture industry, reinforcing the need for greater representation. He challenged attendees to rethink who designs public spaces, sharing how POoR Collective empowers young people through co-design and community-led projects.
He presented real-world case studies, including:
- Tilos Artist Residency – Young people designing play equipment using recycled materials.
- Bringing Home to the Unknown – A collaboration with students in Becontree to create public seating inspired by their lived experiences.
- Bexleyheath High Streets for All – A community-led urban planning project featuring public realm interventions designed with local residents.
Larry left attendees with a powerful message: When given the time, knowledge, and opportunity, we can all be part of shaping the spaces we share.
Keynote: Rethinking Materials & Biomimicry
The afternoon session, introduced by Tamily Cookson, Director of Barbican Creative Hub, featured Leksi Kotsur and Simon Carroll, co-founders of re:right design.
Their keynote explored the potential of biomaterials—materials derived from renewable sources that are biodegradable, compostable, or regenerative. They introduced materials such as mycelium, bioplastics, and hemp-based alternatives, showing how they can replace traditional materials in architecture, set design, and product development.
Key case studies included:
- 6°: Glastonbury 2023 – An experimental project using mycelium-based materials to create sustainable festival structures.
- Moving the Tides: Glastonbury 2024 – A collaboration using seaweed-based materials to develop regenerative design solutions.
Their core message was clear: Nature holds the answers. Reconnect with it, explore biomaterials, and embed circular design principles into creative practice.
Panel Discussion: The Future of Sustainable Creativity
The conference concluded with a panel discussion, hosted by Tamily Cookson, featuring:
- Tristan Hessing, Founder of Future Makers UK
- Kerry Gibson, Founder of ReThread Denim
- Jo Cope, Artist
- Professor Anne Chick, University of Lincoln
The panel explored misconceptions in sustainability and the role of creativity in tackling climate challenges. A key takeaway was that collaboration is essential—no single person or industry can solve these challenges alone. Ethical decision-making, balance, and working together emerged as recurring themes.
A Call to Action
Future Perspectives 2025 reinforced that change is possible, and creativity has the power to shape a more sustainable future. Attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration, ready to apply the insights shared throughout the day.
The Barbican Creative Hub and Lincoln Arts Centre extend their gratitude to all speakers, panellists, and attendees who made the event a success. The conversation doesn’t stop here—let’s continue working together to create a regenerative and impactful future.