Regenerative design in engineering: definition, principles, and framework using a mixed-methods literature review

Regenerative design (RD) has gained increasing attention across engineering disciplines as an approach that seeks to move beyond impact mitigation toward socio-ecological restoration. However, existing definitions and implementation frameworks remain fragmented across sectors, limiting conceptual clarity, metric alignment, and cross-domain transferability. This study examines how RD is conceptualised and applied across engineering and evaluates whether a unified cross-sector framing is feasible.
A combined scoping review, bibliometric network analysis, and comparative synthesis was applied to 68 peer-reviewed articles. Network clustering identified six principal research areas: Architecture, Circularity, Urban Design, Agriculture, Materials, and Frameworks. A structured comparative analysis was then conducted to examine definitions, principles, and implementation pathways across these domains.
The findings reveal conceptual convergence around socio-ecological restoration, systems interdependence, and long-term adaptive capacity. However, definitions vary in system boundaries and evidencing of regeneration, and implementation frameworks remain largely sector-specific. Regenerative performance metrics lack transferability across engineering contexts, and application maturity differs substantially between domains.
In response, we introduce a novel definition of RD: “Regenerative design is a co-creative, transdisciplinary systems approach that enables human and ecological systems to mutually thrive through adaptive, net-positive design and engineering solutions”. Six underpinning principles and an implementation framework (MAGMA) are also presented to translate regenerative intent into structured, iterative practice. These contributions provide a transferable, conceptual and procedural foundation for advancing regenerative engineering within circular economy and environmental sustainability agendas.