Better by Design, Not by Dictate.

Zesti explores how the conditions of everyday life shape our choices, behaviours and wellbeing.

We believe that lasting change depends on more than individual motivation or willpower. The environments we inhabit, the relationships we develop, and the opportunities available to us all influence what becomes possible.

Zesti brings together behavioural science, ecological thinking and practical experience to explore how these conditions can support adaptive, connected and regenerative patterns of behaviour.

Our guiding principle is simple:

Better by Design, Not by Dictate.

Our Purpose

Zesti exists to explore and develop approaches that help individuals, communities and organisations understand and shape the conditions influencing behaviour and choice.

Rather than prescribing how people should behave, we are interested in understanding the systems that shape their choices — and how those systems might be changed.

Our thinking is informed by research, observation and practical experience, particularly in public health, behaviour change, nature-based activities and community development.

Want to know a little more about our thinking?

What Zesti Is (and What It Is Not)

Small by Design

Zesti is intended to remain a small, collaborative organisation.

Our ambition is not to build a large service-delivery operation, but to contribute ideas, methods and practical resources that others can adapt within their own circumstances.

We are particularly interested in collaborating with practitioners, researchers, schools, community organisations and others exploring the relationship between environments, behaviour and wellbeing.

Our developing approach includes:

• The Zesti Method — a cyclical process of noticing conditions, understanding our current direction and deciding what, if anything, needs to change in relation to our Desired Direction.
• Choice Space Theory (CST) — a developing theory exploring how an agent's relationship with their ecology gives rise to affordances, estimated ease and estimated value, and how these change through interaction and feedback.
• Regenerative Behaviour by Design (RBD) — developing practitioner methods and resources informed by the Zesti Method, Choice Space Theory and five regenerative mechanisms: Cycling, Synergy, Harnessing, Allostasis and Diversity.

These ideas are evolving through reflection, research, critical discussion and practical observation.

Our Grow Guides provide practical resources for growing food, exploring nature and learning through doing. They reflect our interest in how everyday environments create opportunities for participation, experimentation and shared learning.

Explore our Grow Guides.

Collaboration

Zesti welcomes conversations with people and organisations interested in exploring, questioning and applying these ideas.

We are particularly interested in opportunities for collaborative inquiry, practitioner development and small-scale practical exploration.

Our aim is to contribute to work that is useful, evidence-informed and responsive to the people and places involved.

Explore our Events & Activities to see what we're doing with communities and collaborators.

Organisational Development

Zesti is currently developing its organisational structure, with the intention of incorporating as Zesti CIC, a Community Interest Company.

The proposed CIC is not yet incorporated or registered.

Get in Touch

If you're interested in exploring a collaboration, discussing the Zesti Method or Choice Space Theory, or contributing to their development, we'd welcome a conversation.

Contact: zesticic@gmail.com