Registration is Open for the Spring 2025 Cohort!
The Biophilic Design Certification Program:
Biophilic Fundamentals
The Spring 2025 Cohort Kicks off March 6th, 2025. Click below to register now!
Ready to take your design career to the next level with a deeper connection to nature?
Upon completion of this curriculum, you will be able to:
- Identify and articulate your role and relationship to nature
- Illustrate your understanding of biophilia and how it aligns with the technical aspects of biophilic design
- Articulate how your relationship with nature shapes your approach to biophilic design
- Build awareness of how your interaction with nature differs from others and understand the importance of these differences
- Cultivate a deeper sensory relationship with the natural world through direct experiences
- Find a deeper sense of purpose in your career
A 14-week journey into the heart of biophilic design and nature connection.
This course lays the foundation for your biophilic journey by blending the wisdom of forest therapy with the principles of biophilic design. Build a deeper connection with nature through self-discovery by reconnecting with your senses.
Biophilic Design Certification
To earn your Biophilic Design Certification, we encourage active participation throughout the program. Successful completion includes attending the virtual guided forest therapy walk, and 5 of the 6 live sessions, actively engaging in discussions, and fulfilling all assigned coursework.
Financial Investment
$2,000 $1,900 USD if paid in full or
(4) monthly installments of $500
Accepted Payment Methods:
Our billing platform is called MoonClerk which accepts payments securely through Stripe, which includes various options. Exchange rates are determined by the issuing bank.
Spring Session Overview
Course Highlights
- Introduction to Biophilic Design and Nature Connectedness
- Guided Forest Therapy Walk
- Building a Deeper Relationship with Self and Nature
- Exploring Different Ways of Knowing and Understanding
Course Timeline
Start Date: Thursday, March 6th, 2025
Cohort Size: 20 participants per cohort – The Spring Session will have two cohorts (AM and PM) for a total of 40 available spots.
Course Format: Hybrid Cohort with live virtual sessions and self-paced learning
Weekly Time Commitment: A new module will be released each week and you’ll likely spend approximately 3 to 5 hours on the material, depending on the complexity of assignments.
Live Meeting Details
Meeting Times:
AM Cohort: 10 AM – 11:30 AM Central Time.
PM Cohort: 3 PM – 4:30 pM Central Time.
*Note: The course starts in CST (Central Standard Time, UTC−06:00). On March 9th, Central Time changes to CDT (Central Daylight Time, UTC−05:00). Please check worldtimebuddy to ensure these times work for you.
Meeting Duration: All meetings are 90 minutes unless otherwise noted.
How will we meet?: Google Meet. At the start of the course, calendar invites will be sent for all meetings.
Live Course Schedule
- Feb 22nd: Access to Module 1 available
- March 6th: Live Session 1: Introduction Meeting
- March 20: Live Session 2: Virtually guided Forest Therapy Walk, 120 min
- April 3: Live Session 3
- April 17: Live Session 4
- May 1: Live Session 5
- May 15: Live Session 6
- May 29: Live Session 7
Testimonials
"I like the balance of reading, reflection, experience, and discussion [the course] offered. The materials were concise and meaningful, which allowed space for me to reflect on what I learned. The time I invested has benefitted and shaped my relationship with nature."
Stephanie Strang | Cybersecurity Awareness Manager @ Johnson Controls
"To be honest, I am surprised about what this training is doing with me. A lot of my old memories, specially when I was a child are waking up. I was already convinced about our relationship with nature but this part of the session gave to me a new ways to understand our relationship and specially that we are part of it and we need to protect it even more. Thanks Nicole!"
Oscar Hernandez | Building Performance Director
“The best part of the Forest Therapy Walk with Nicole was that afterward I felt like I could BREATHE again. Not only did I feel refreshed simply by being in nature, I was truly and utterly present the entire time. Although I did reflect back and consider my path, the majority of the exercises kept me grounded in the moment. And THAT was a true gift! I hope I get to do these more often! ”
Amanda Stein | Copywriter & Founder @Gioia Creative
"I had hesitations on how well I'd be able to feel connected through a virtual space, but I can attest that it was a wonderfully connecting and engaging experience, both with the world around me and with other members of the cohort. Being able to meet virtually also meant I got to hear from people experiencing different environments and times of day, which I felt enhanced the experience and connection not just in my immediate environment, but also with the larger world outside of me. Forest Therapy will be something I seek out more frequently because of my experience!"
Keeli MaKae | Sales & Marketing Coordinator @ Plant Solutions
"All of the coursework in this program has felt like opening a little box of wonders. So many invitations to better understand humanity's psychological needs for connection with the natural world, to deepen my own nature connection, and to learn how to design spaces that support the wellbeing of both humans and non-human organisms.”
Diane Luepke | Operations Manager @ Global Energy Monitor
“I am grateful for the continued expansion of my own being and the way that this course module has helped me to more deeply connect with others and the natural world. I have been using these teachings in my everyday life, as I meet challenges and create solutions using a more holistic approach.”
Tamberly Conway | Arborist, Founder & CEO @ Conservation Conexions, LLC
Who is this curriculum for?
The Biophilic Design Institute believes that we are stronger with a greater diversity of thought, professional backgrounds, and lived experiences.
This course is designed for people from all walks of life. From students to seasoned professionals, those in interior plant care to urban planners to design and innovation strategist.
Countries Represented:
- US
- Canda
- India
- Australia
- Iceland
- Signapore
- Puerto Rico
Professions Represented:
- interior designers
- architects
- greenhouse technician
- interiorscapes professionals
- landscape architect
- students
- cyber security manager
- operations management
- lighting designers
- urban planning and design
- sustainable design specialist
- mechanical and civil engineers
- arborist
- manufacturers
- entrepreneurs
- and more!
If you feel this work is relevant in any way – you are more than welcome!
Meet the creator of the Biophilic Fundamentals Curriculum
Nicole Craanen
Nicole Craanen is an internationally recognized interior designer and environmental advocate with a Master’s in Human Ecology, pioneering sustainable and regenerative design approaches through consultancy, global speaking engagements, and her Biophilic Design Professional Certification program. As the founder of The Biophilic Design Institute, and as a trained yoga teacher and Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, she explores the intersection of human well-being and ecological balance.
What’s included in the course?
MODULE ONE:
Introduction
This module sets the foundation for your fourteen-week journey. You’ll learn about key program dates, your role as a participant, and how to set up your profile to connect with peers. You’ll also meet your instructor, explore where you fall on the nature connectedness scale, and join a live introductory session to kick things off.
MODULE TWO:
Connecting to nature through forest therapy
MODULE THREE:
Deepening awareness through observation
MODULE FOUR:
What is biophilic design? + building standards
MODULE FIVE:
Biophilic design frameworks
MODULE SIX:
Multi-sensory design +
Learning from your senses: Touch
Discover the power of multi-sensory design and how experiences in nature can reshape your perceptions. Recognize the power of your sense of touch through direct sensory experiences and explore how it shapes your understanding of the world around you.
MODULE SEVEN:
Spatial characteristics
Explore how the layout and other spatial characteristics impact our experiences. Reflect on your sense of touch.
MODULE EIGHT:
Learning from your senses: Sight
Recognize the power of your sense of sight through direct sensory experiences and discover how it shapes your understanding of the world around you
MODULE NINE:
How your strengths influence perspective + well-being
Get insights into what well-being looks like, your unique gifts, evaluate their influence on your experiences and career, and reflect on your sense of sight.
MODULE TEN:
Learning from your senses: Hearing
Recognize the power of your sense of hearing through direct sensory experiences and discover how it shapes your understanding of the world around you
MODULE ELEVEN:
How your values influence perspective + biophilic-washing
Explore diverse perspectives, identify common misconceptions, learn communication strategies, consider nature’s role in decision-making, and analyze if a project is committed to biophilic design. Reflect on your sense of hearing.
MODULE TWLEVE:
Learning from your senses: Smell & Taste
Recognize the power of your sense of smell and taste through direct sensory experiences and discover how it shapes your understanding of the world around you
MODULE THIRTEEN:
Purpose and Awe + your biophilic design practice
Define biophilic design for your practice, and reflect on your sense of smell & taste.
Biophilic Design Institute FAQs
The Spring Session includes two Cohorts. You will have the option to meet at 10AM CT or 3PM CT. The course starts Thursday March 6th, 2025 and runs through June 13th, 2025. The course is 14-weeks long. It made up of (13) modules and includes (7) 90-minute live, virtual coaching sessions that will be held bi-weekly on Thursdays. You can estimate about 3-5 hours of self-guided homework every week
Live Sessions Schedule:
Feb 22nd: Access to Module 1 available
March 6th: Live Session 1: Introduction Meeting
March 30: Live Session 2: Virtually guided Forest Therapy Walk, 120 min
March 5: Live Session 3
April 17: Live Session 4
May 1: Live Session 5
May 15: Live Session 6
May 29: Live Session 7
Please reach out with any financial questions!
To get the most out of this program, it is expected that you will spend between 3-5 hours per week on the coursework, this includes the biweekly live-virtual coaching sessions.
Biophilic design reaches many fields, from the architecture industry (like interior designers, architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers, etc), to manufacturers, business strategists, HR professionals and more. If you believe having a great connection to nature and understanding the concepts the bring us biophilic design are important to you, then you belong in this course!
The only knowledge you need to have is to know that you want to learn more!
Nope! The only restriction is if you can make the time work for our live-virtual sessions. This course caters to an international audience, and we’re aware of time zone challenges.
Yes. While this course is a foundation course, you will leave this program understanding your personal connection to nature and biophilic design in a way that gives you the skills to articulate the benefits to a wide range of people, including clients. And future courses will expand on these concepts to provide further expertise!
Biophilic design is a growing field and a top trend for the last few years. Biophilic knowledge is found in sustainability certification programs like WELL, LEED and the Living Building Challenge as well as in guidelines like the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This knowledge will enhance any work you do related to well-being or sustainability.