Photos provided by Nicole Craanen
Biophilic design isn’t just about adding greenery to a room—it’s about rethinking our relationship to the spaces we inhabit and the natural world they exist within. For The Biophilic Design Institute’s Nicole Craanen, this approach became a calling. What began as a personal obsession soon evolved into a rigorous academic pursuit and, eventually, a professional certification program. Today, Craanen’s biophilic design certification program, titled Biophilic Fundamentals, is helping professionals across industries reconnect with the deeper purpose behind their work—supporting both human and planetary health through meaningful, nature-infused design. Public registration opens July 1.
MD: What sparked your personal passion for biophilic design, and how did that evolve into a formal certification platform?
NC: Before I became obsessed with biophilic design, I worked as a commercial interior designer for about eight years. I had always been curious about the felt experience of spaces. I had traveled to 24 countries, spent time camping and backpacking, and noticed some of the most powerful moments I experienced in nature felt very similar to what I felt in some of the world’s most incredible architecture. I wanted to understand why that was and how I could replicate that for clients.
My academic background had already explored some of these questions. As an undergraduate, I studied religious studies, anthropology, psychology, and architecture—all fields that in some way examine how people experience the world around them. In 2013, I decided to go deeper and enrolled in graduate school to study Human Ecology, the study of how people interact with their natural, social, and built environments and the reciprocal relationship between humans and place.
During my first week, I was introduced to biophilic design and knew immediately it was going to be my focus. I spent the next three years studying the topic. Over time, I realized how little space most professionals have to learn and explore topics that are not directly tied to billable hours. My thesis project became my first website, an educational resource designed as a quick reference for designers, knowing most people would not have years to study the field like I did.
When COVID-19 hit, I was working as an interior designer on the design and construction team of a large health care group. Suddenly, conversations about well-being were everywhere, and biophilic design started coming up more often. Because my thesis website had remained active, people began reaching out to me to learn more, and eventually started asking me to teach them. As soon as they heard about biophilic design, it felt like it was what they had been seeking. That was the turning point where I saw the opportunity to create something more formal (a course) that could serve professionals looking to go deeper.
What gap in the industry were you aiming to fill when you created the certification program?
As I started thinking about how to teach biophilic design, I recognized two challenges. First, while meaningful research and excellent books existed, much of what was easily accessible to professionals focused only on surface-level aspects, like aesthetics or simply adding plants. Second, most professionals did not have the time or space to dive deeply into this field on their own.
People began coming to me looking for ways to reconnect with what originally drew them to design. Many were hoping to expand their practice to better support both human health and the health of our planet.
As a trained Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (also called forest bathing), I saw what many were craving was not just information but a deeper, lived experience of biophilic design. I see biophilic design as rooted in our reciprocal relationship with nature. It is not just about how nature supports human well-being but also about how we support nature in return. How do we design in ways that foster the health of ecosystems, species, and the larger living world, while also benefiting the people who inhabit these spaces?
With my design background and interest in research, I saw an opportunity to help bridge the gap between research and practical application. My goal was to create a program that balances science, design, human experience, and a lived relationship with nature.
Can you walk us through the structure of the program—what does a typical week or module look like for a participant?
The program runs over three months, with participants spending about 3 to 5 hours per week. Each module blends self-paced work with live sessions and hands-on activities. They complete readings, watch videos, and spend dedicated time outside doing sit spots, which is an intentional practice where they slow down, observe, and tune into their senses. They also engage in indoor sensory exercises and reflect on how these experiences are impacting them personally and professionally.
Live virtual sessions are held every other week to connect as a group and go deeper into the material. The only week that looks a little different is the second live session, where we open the program with a virtually guided forest therapy walk. On the alternate weeks, there are optional Q&A and community sessions. These came directly from participant feedback and have become a really enjoyable space for conversation, sharing ideas, and spending time together in a supportive group.
Why do you think biophilic design is resonating so strongly with both professionals and clients right now?
After COVID-19, conversations about well-being were everywhere, and biophilic design started coming up more often. At the same time, people were spending more time outside and noticing how much better they felt when they were in nature. I had already been speaking on biophilic design, but now I was being asked to speak more specifically on well-being. I could see the interest in this work shift, and people began reaching out because biophilic design was resonating with them. Many were looking to deepen their work. Some were searching for more meaning; others wanted to expand their practice to better support both human health and the health of our planet. Many felt like they were navigating this alone. I believe biophilic design resonates because it gives people a way to reconnect with these deeper values and integrate well-being and nature into their work.
In what ways is biophilic design fundamentally different from other wellness-focused certifications like LEED?
I think of biophilic design as complementary to programs like LEED, WELL, or other building certifications, but [this is] fundamentally different in how it approaches the work. Most certifications focus on measurable building performance, physical health outcomes, or environmental impact—things like energy use, air quality, water management, or access to daylight. Biophilic design, on the other hand, starts with the lived experience. It looks at how spaces make us feel, how we relate to our environments, and how we engage with nature, both physically and emotionally. There is also a growing body of research that continues to demonstrate the health and well-being benefits of this approach, which supports what many people experience directly in these spaces.
I serve on advisory boards for both the WELL Building Standard and Living Future Europe Biophilic Advisory Board. I fully support the important role these frameworks play. But biophilic design asks different kinds of questions. It’s not a checklist or a scorecard but rather a way of thinking that invites observation, reflection, and an understanding of how sensory experiences, values, and personal connections to nature influence the spaces we create.
How does the program help professionals apply biophilic principles in real-world settings, especially in fast-paced or budget-constrained projects?
This program gives a strong foundation for people across many areas of the built environment. It is not limited to one specialty or profession, and part of the value comes from hearing different perspectives. Whether someone works in engineering, interior design, architecture, urban planning, interiorscaping, or another field, the information applies to their work. It is called Biophilic Fundamentals because there is always more to learn, but it pulls together information and ideas that can be hard to piece together on your own, no matter your role or how much experience you bring.
We focus on helping participants see how biophilic design applies in real-world conditions. One of the core ideas is that biophilic design is scalable. Even in fast-paced or budget-constrained projects, there is always something that can be done to support well-being and connection to nature. Participants explore frameworks, sensory design principles, personal values, and well-being while also learning how these concepts affect both humans and other species.
As they move through the course, participants complete a self-directed course project that applies what they are learning to their own work. Projects are intentionally flexible so people can focus on what makes sense for their field and goals, whether that’s a client presentation, design concept, education program, or business application.
What kinds of results are practitioners seeing after completing the certification—are there measurable business benefits?
The program is still fairly new, so we are just starting to see longer-term outcomes. But participants have already started applying the work in a variety of ways that fit their professional roles. Some have reoriented their businesses to more intentionally focus on biophilic design, while others have created continuing education programs they now offer through their companies. Several participants have used the course to develop marketing tools to introduce biophilic design to their clients or incorporate it more directly into their service offerings. In some cases, participants are bringing biophilic design into larger conversations in their industries, like lighting code updates or new course development for academic programs. Others have created client-facing tools to help support well-being through plant selection and interiorscaping.
Beyond business outcomes, many participants say the program gives them greater confidence and clarity in how to move this work forward in their practice. They leave with a stronger understanding of how to integrate biophilic design into projects and client conversations, and feel better prepared to apply what they’ve learned in ways that fit their specific field—whether that’s creating design concepts, developing education materials, or shifting business strategy.
I know there are waitlists already started—when will you be opening registration for the next iteration?
I run two sessions a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The next session will begin Sept. 11 and run through Dec. 11. Early registration opened on June 16. People can join the waitlist or sign up for my newsletter to stay informed. Registration opens to the public on July 1—keep an eye on my certification page for more details!
What else should we know?
This work often draws people who care deeply about both well-being and the natural world but who haven’t always had a space to fully explore how those values fit into their professional work. Many have carried these questions for a while, looking for a way to bring biophilic design forward in a way that feels both meaningful and practical. They often have strong expertise in their own fields but are looking for new perspectives and language to support the work they want to do.
What makes the experience especially valuable is the mix of people who come together. Participants bring different backgrounds and areas of practice but often find they are asking many of the same questions. That shared exploration creates conversations and connections that deepen the learning in ways none of us could create on our own.
For me, it has been meaningful to create a space where people can step back from the pace of day-to-day work, slow down, and rediscover what makes this work meaningful to them. My hope is that people leave not only with information and tools but also with greater clarity, confidence, and a sense of connection to a professional community they can continue to grow with.
Must-Know Details
- INVESTMENT: $2,000
- DATES: Sept. 11-Dec. 11, 2025
- LIVE SESSIONS: Thursdays @ 9 a.m. CDT/CST
- TIME COMMITMENT: 3-5 hours/week
- COHORT SIZE: 20 participants
