Living Design Labs is a systems thinking consultancy founded in 2023, specialising in environmental project management and industrial ecology. The consultancy translates sustainability ambitions into practical pathways for small businesses, NGOs and public organisations. We're developing Certifido with industry partners — practical tools to help small manufacturers navigate climate regulations with confidence.
Discover CertifidoLiving Design Labs was founded in 2023 with a clear mission: to make environmental management and resource efficiency accessible to the businesses that need it most—small and micro-manufacturers. Based in the UK, we work at the intersection of bioeconomy research, regenerative design, and manufacturing technology. We believe sustainability shouldn't be a luxury reserved for large corporations with dedicated compliance teams—our approach integrates environmental intelligence directly into the operational tools manufacturers already use.
The linear systems that have shaped industrial development are no longer viable—ecologically, socially, or economically. Living Design Labs bridges a critical gap in contemporary design by connecting product-level decisions to system-level consequences. Too often, industrial design operates in isolation from the broader material flows, ecological cycles, and social dynamics it shapes. Living Design Labs works collaboratively with designers and producers—with tools and frameworks to move across scales: from material selection and green chemistry principles through to industrial symbiosis, circular infrastructure, and regenerative economies. The aim is to bring people and planet back to the heart of the industrial design process, embedding socio-ecological thinking into every stage from concept to end-of-life.
Founder & Director
Savanna is a regenerative systems researcher and designer working at the intersection of biology, design, materials, ethics, and innovation. Her work explores how to create the conditions for transformative change to planetary and human health—collaborating with start-ups, NGOs, large organisations, and cities to advance local regenerative economies.
With a foundation in chemical and biological engineering (University of Sheffield) and an MSc in Life Science & Technology (TU Delft), Savanna combines deep technical expertise with systems-level thinking on sustainability transitions. Her masters research applied advanced statistical and data analysis methods to industrial wastewater treatment systems, demonstrating how rigorous quantitative approaches can unlock insights on environmental impact for complex operations at an industrial scale.
This analytical foundation has shaped her subsequent work. As a Senior Bioeconomy Researcher at Metabolic Institute, she led applied research on circular material flows, using data analysis in R and Python to assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of supply chains. She developed and facilitated system mapping tools, root cause analysis, and multi-stakeholder workshops to co-create visions and roadmaps for industrial transformation.
Her project management experience includes leading the research phase of the Circular Innovation Collective's Amsterdam Textiles Pilot, where she developed a Theory of Change for regional textile circularity and identified innovation gaps for scaling sustainable solutions. She also guided the Netherlands component of Design for Transformation, an international initiative exploring how synthetic textile waste can be converted into beneficial outputs for the biosphere—scoping conversion technologies, infrastructure needs, policy landscapes, and stakeholder engagement across Rotterdam.
In 2023, Savanna founded Living Design Labs to advance state-of-the-art practice in industrial ecology. The organisation is rooted in a philosophy of responsible innovation: we are at an urgent inflection point where the way we produce, consume, and manufacture must fundamentally shift.
Working in conjunction with established manufacturing organisations Staplebarn Limited and Calibre Models Ltd, and web design experts Clickboom Ltd — we are developing an integrated MRP and environmental management platform designed specifically for micro-manufacturers, combining production planning with real-time environmental intelligence.
Intelligent data flow that connects material inputs, production processes, and environmental outputs in real-time — no manual tracking required.
Smart workflows that adapt to your processes, not the other way around. Built for the reality of small-batch, high-variety manufacturing.
Connect with your existing tools and scale as you grow. From ISO pathway preparation to EU Digital Product Passport readiness.
"Working with Living Design Labs over the past two years has transformed how we monitor and manage our production to move towards our net-zero goals. Savanna took the time to really understand our operations and the specific challenges we face as a small manufacturer. What stood out was the collaborative approach: she'd prototype solutions quickly, gather our feedback, and refine them in real time. It never felt like we were being handed a one-size-fits-all system. The MRP solution we've developed together fits the way we work, and the focus on continuous improvement means it keeps evolving with our needs."
Whether you're a micro-manufacturer looking to improve efficiency, a potential partner, or just curious about our work — we'd love to hear from you.
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