The word ECOSA is the combination of the words “Ecology” and the Italian word for things “Cosa” which together mean “The Ecology of Things”.

THE MISSION OF ECOSA IS TO RESTORE HEALTH TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THUS THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION IN DESIGN. OUR VISION IS BASED ON SYNTHESIZING THE ETHICAL AND ECOLOGICAL VALUES CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE VITALITY AND DYNAMISM OF THE DESIGN ARTS.

THE ECOSA INSTITUTE PHILOSOPHY

The Ecosa education philosophy is rooted in four basic precepts: everything is connected, solutions must be based on nature’s needs, solutions must be holistic and complex, and change must be of second order magnitude (changing systems rather than modifying them). These precepts create the foundation for the Ecosa curriculum which speaks directly to the way built environments interact with natural ones.

The Ecosa philosophy that guides curriculum development and organization management is as follows:

We are a continuously evolving species. Initially shaped by the natural environment, we are now transformed by our built environments. Historically we have created the habitats that surround us, but are now unaware of the negative impacts predesigned environments have. Every product we use, every space we inhabit, every city we live in has been designed with little consideration of nature or human wellbeing. Ill-considered design has led to global climate crisis, cultural conflict, and psychological stress.

Current research clarifies the innate need for connection between humans and natural environments1. Additionally, there is a growing body of knowledge defining the relationship between the psychological stress and cultural fragmentation caused by built environments. To design a thriving future we must be aware of the subtle forces that shape our perceptions and psychology. Through the power of design, everyone can participate in co-evolving our future.

From an educational standpoint, participating in the evolution of our natural and built environments means educating students to become design literate. This requires teaching design thinking, creating an ecological world view, and building connections across every discipline. The Ecosa program seeks to break through the “knowledge silos2” inherent in traditional education. The innate propensity to create silos must be dismantled through integrative interdisciplinary approaches that create long term experiences. These experiences will integrate a wide variety of disciplines into an immersive program that tackles the “wicked problems” of our time.

1 This connection is referred to as biophilia, “a desire or tendency to commune with nature.”

2 Knowledge silos refer to the separation of subjects into departments with little to no connection between them.