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Zeynep Falay von Flittner
Transforming Minds, Designing Futures: Inspiring Change for a Regenerative World
Zeynep Falay von Flittner is an inspiring role model and a powerful force within the design community. A leader in transformational design, she has made significant strides in both environmental protection and social well-being through her work as a consultant, educator, researcher, and speaker. In recognition of her holistic approach to advancing sustainable development goals, she was awarded the Ornamo Award 2024 Design Forerunner Prize.
With over 20 years of international experience, Zeynep has helped organizations become more human-centric, explored the power of design for social change, and spearheaded innovative experiments. She is the founder of Falay Transition Design, a pioneering collective integrating design methods into broader societal transformation efforts, and Design Activists for Regenerative Futures. She also serves on the board of System Change Finland.
As a speaker, Zeynep offers a boost of inspiration, insights, and a sense of agency to her audience. She blends cutting-edge research and innovations in sustainability and creative fields with practical knowledge and personal anecdotes. Zeynep challenges her audience with compassion and positivity, encouraging them to reflect on the mental frameworks that perpetuate negative societal trends and to take the necessary steps for change – both individually and within their organizations.
Zeynep consistently receives excellent feedback for her work in promoting regenerative organizational cultures, forward-thinking business strategies, and systemic approaches to change. Each of her speeches is carefully tailored to resonate with her audience.
Zeynep holds speaks in English.
Examples of speech topics:
Systems change and what is needed for it
Regenerative leadership – New ways of working and being
Role of imagination for transformation
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Alvar Aalto Seminar 9th of June 2025
Poli Technico -Milano - 31 March 2025
Panel moderator at Ornamo Responsible Design Manifesto panel discussion - Helsinki City hall 30 Jan 2025
Humans Sciences Community- guest speaker - 3 Dec 2024
Guest lecture at aalto university - Speculative Futures Class - 28 Nov 2024
Guest Lecture at Aalto Univercity - Systems thinking Class guest lecture - 7 Nov 2024
Service Design Network Conference, Helsinki- Falay Transition Design Workshop2 october 2024
Ornamo Design Award - acceptance 10 September 2024
Systems Innovation Learning Festival 2024- 17 September 2024
Laurea CE Living Lab morning coffee session: Transition Design by Zeynep Falay - 6th of June 2024
Puistokatu 4 -Transition Design workshop 5th of June 2024
Katapult Futures Fest - Panelist Katapult Future Fest31 May 2024
VTT Ibex program- Futures Protoyping 5th of Feb 2024
COP 2023- Workshop Facilitation 2nd December 2023
Futurice, guest speaker – Transition design toolbox with Falay transition design 17 Nov 2023
Sitra Heräämö speaker - 24 August 2023
Climate KIC - Systems Innovation Learning Festival Day 3 1st of June 2023
Guest Speaker at in CS Breakfast 25 April 2023
Speeches
Inner Development for Resilient Leadership
In this talk for Latvian government, I speak about dimensions of leadership that is often overlooked, but critical to navigate the world we living in: inner development. We are living the time of deep uncertainty and profound transformation where inner development is not a luxury but necessity for wise and effective leadership for the new system. The future we are trying to build starts from within.
Design as a tool for social change
Design is often promoted as an approach to navigating complex landscapes and solving wicked problems. But what is the role of design in transforming businesses and societies towards sustainable futures? I have been invited to talk at Sitra Fund’s Heräämö Breakfast Event about barriers and opportunities of design industry for social change.
Visionary Role of Design: From Aalto’s Modernity to Regenerative Futures
How is the legacy of design being renewed? Amid major ecological shifts, the design field must urgently expand its perspective to encompass more than just the human world. In my talk for Alvar Aalto Design Seminar 2025 I asked can we apply the same effective methods to guide new desires and practices—ones that serve life and inspire the dominant actor, the human, to choose to live in harmony and respect with other beings?. Watch recording here.
Creative Economy Summit in Istanbul
I joined a panel discussion in Creative Economy Summit in Istanbul, focusing on the impact of new technologies, art, and sustainability — and shared thoughts on how creative practice can serve as a driver for systems transformation. Watch recording here.
Designing for Transitions - Principles and Tools
How to think more systemically and design more intentionally? I presented for Si Design Hubi, sharing insights on Transition Design, from principles and real-world practice. I provided learnings from my work supporting organizations on their journey toward more just and sustainable futures, and an overview of my practical toolkit.
Creative practices for transformational Futures.
Sustainability is (in) everything. What kind of power can creative practices have as the change-making energy towards a more sustainable future? Aalto University and Design Museum’s business network, the Design Club, invited CreaTures chief Tuuli Mattelmäki and Zeynep Falay von Flittner to share their thoughts on sustainable futures in the business context. The online event was organised on September 23rd 2020, as part of Aalto University’s Designs for Cooler Planet event.
Business of Design & Sustainability
In this Nodus talk, Zeynep Falay von Flittner and Dr. İdil Gaziulusoy are discussing about the risks and opportunities around sustainability and design business.
Circular Design HOW TO? EcoDesign tools in practice
In the event, organised by Estonian Design Centre, we have talked about the Circular Service Design Framework we have developed as part of EcoDesign Circle project. Speakers: Ronja Scholz (Fraunhofer IZM), Harri Moora (EKJA), Juha Kronqvist & Zeynep Falay von Flittner (Hellon) Moderator: Tapani Jokinen (Fraunhofer IZM)
Co-imagining Sustainable Futures.
Zeynep Falay von Flittner is hosting Hellon’s Sonja Nielsen and Kirsikka Vaajakallio, in Dare to Share webinar, where they talk about the importance of imagining alternative futures and give a practical example of a tool called: Sustainability Futures Game.
How design can improve peoples ́ everyday life?
Live-stream recording from a two-day conference “RESHAPE – Designing the future of the library” in Helsinki, Finland on September 26-27, 2016. This video includes a presentation by Zeynep Falay von Flittner on How design can improve peoples ́ everyday life?