Much is changing in the world; our society, economy, attitude to ecology and our way of living is being redefined. In this, design will and must redefine itself to remain relevant and of value.

This paper will explore the values of resilience (Ward & Dixon 2007) and conviviality (Illich 1973) for designing in a society in transformation. It will, furthermore, seek to determine the role of the Designer as Citizen (Margolin 2008) working in the flow of our changing society. It will propose, as an innovative context for designing, the notion of the experienced environment as a way to re-connect these values. It will propose the prospect of a more holistic attitude in the designer of empathy, humility and respect when engaged in design activities with a wider audience than that currently experienced by our profession.

In manifesting and discussing these values and their related contexts the paper will draw upon analysis and reflection of recently completed projects where these issues are being explored through tangible design engagements with community and society.

Furthermore, this paper will propose an outline of some evolved coherent elements of a new educational approach; the intention being to add to the wider debate in enabling significant potential for growth and adaption for design activity thereby creating value, of an innovative nature, in designing for transformation in and with our changing society and also encouraging the creation of new opportunities for design and the potential for the designer as citizen.