What does it mean to design educational environments for thriving?
02 Oct 2026
Thriving is a sense of vital wellbeing and capability. Physical learning environments can create the atmospheres and opportunities that lead to thriving, yet producing those environments requires a collective effort. Our work involves building relationships across diverse stakeholders in education, architecture, government and beyond. We’re doing the research to discover how people have been designing for thriving in school projects across Australia and opportunities for further innovation.
Great design relies on diverse perspectives, yet authentic dialogue across disciplines is often easier said than done. Our research on Vertical Schools put students’ experience (told in part in videos created by students) alongside conversations with other stakeholders like architects, teachers, and principals. The resulting website shares stories about ways that the design of learning spaces shapes experiences.
Systems mapping innovation in design of school environments
Our current project goes beyond vertical schools, looking to understand the connections between school-built environments and thriving in all schools.
We are using a systems mapping approach. This method is widely used in healthcare and urban planning, to make visible complex interactions and tensions within a system. System maps are a powerful way to develop a shared language among stakeholders from diverse backgrounds about the broad landscape of factors influencing educational innovation in Australia. What are the interdependencies and trade-offs involved in designing and building thriving schools?
We are developing this systems map through conversations with stakeholders, with architects and anyone else involved in decision-making around designs for school built environments. The work is fundamentally about bringing a community of stakeholders together who are working towards thriving schools by design.
We are actively seeking architects, designers, project managers and other stakeholders, who are able to share their expertise and experience. If you’ve been involved in a relevant project with schools, then please get in touch: Study Information and Registration Form. Participation does not require any special expertise or preparation, just a willingness to share insights on how design influences thriving in schools.
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