The problem of achieving a sustainable society can be seen as a multi-faceted prism, with each face representing a different category of concern (material and energy use, societal well-being, economics, etc.). Many of today’s sustainable design solutions focus on just one or two of the facets meaning that they inevitably miss parts of the problem and deliver a sub-optimal set of recommendations. For example, lower carbon impact is frequently traded for greater human or ecological impact. This cannot be considered sustainable. 

Symbiosis in Design (SiD) is a new methodology developed in-house by Except for solving complex, multi-faceted problems such as that of sustainable design. It guides designers and decision-makers in incorporating problems beyond material and energy use, extending to include social, ecological, economic, and political issues. If we ever hope to achieve sustainability, we must optimize for all of these competing areas of concern at the same time –  and this is what SiD can help do. 

SiD is a flexible methodology that not only allows itself to be adjusted to the needs of any project, but it encourages this as well. It has a modular structure that allows the particulars of any given project to be completely integrated. Symbiosis in Design also allows the inclusion of the limited-domain tools currently used for certain evaluations or certifications, such as LEED, LCA, Cradle 2 Cradle, and BREEAM. These tools take on greater meaning when applied in the context of broader issues, leading to conclusions that they would not have revealed if they had been used on their own.