I’m sharing some exciting news about the next chapter in the life of the Dignity Manifesto of Design for People Living with Dementia.

Since its inception, the Manifesto has sought to set out clear values and design principles that uphold the dignity, autonomy, and wellbeing of people living with dementia.

It grew from the foundations laid by the 2020 Alzheimer’s Disease International report Design, Dignity and Dementia, and has since been refined through global consultation with designers, care providers, researchers, advocates, and people living with dementia themselves.

The Manifesto has always been more than a static document. It is a living framework, intended to evolve with new evidence, changing cultural contexts, and the creativity of those who work to apply its principles. In recent years, the website has been central to sharing these ideas, enabling signatories like you to access resources, contribute your experiences, and connect with a growing international network.

We are now taking an important step to ensure the longevity, reach, and continued development of both the Manifesto and its online home. In late September 2025, the Dignity Manifesto website is being transferred to the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania, where it will be managed by Dr Joanna Sun. Dr Sun has a long-standing interest in dementia design and a distinguished track record in research, practice, and education in this field.

This move is being made for several compelling reasons:

1. First-class technical and IT support – The Wicking Institute has dedicated infrastructure and expertise to host and maintain the site securely, ensuring stability and professional presentation well into the future.

2. Embedding in a world-leading dementia research and education centre – Wicking’s extensive network of researchers, educators, and alumni—many of whom have completed its globally respected courses—will bring the Manifesto into daily use across a wide range of professional settings.

3. Sustaining the Manifesto for future generations – Transferring custodianship to a younger generation of leaders ensures continuity beyond the tenure of its founders, safeguarding both its message and its relevance for decades to come.

4. Integration with ongoing research and best practice – Being part of Wicking’s program of research and education means the Manifesto can be continually updated in light of new findings and case studies from around the world.

5. Expanded reach and impact – Through Wicking’s global partnerships, outreach channels, and translation capabilities, we can better share the Manifesto across cultural and linguistic boundaries.

6. Opportunities for innovation – The transfer opens possibilities for interactive, multimedia, and educational adaptations of the Manifesto, making it even more accessible and practical for those designing environments for people living with dementia.

It is important to emphasise that while the website’s management will be based at Wicking, the original founders and managers of the Manifesto and its website will continue to guide its direction and development through our ongoing role on the Manifesto Management Committee. Our vision, values, and principles remain unchanged; this move strengthens our ability to uphold them. Your role as a signatory is as vital as ever—we encourage you to continue sharing the Manifesto in your own networks and applying its principles in your work.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring that the environments in which people with dementia live are dignified, enabling, and life-affirming. We are confident that this new chapter will help the Manifesto reach and inspire an even wider audience.

Shared with permission, on behalf of the Founders of the Dignity Manifesto of Design for People Living with Dementia – Kirsty Bennett, Richard Fleming, Jan Golembiewski, Lynda Henderson, Kate Swaffer, and John Zeisel.

Image source: The Dignity Manifesto of Design for People Living with Dementia

NOTE: IF YOU WISH YOUR NAME TO BE ADDED TO THIS PUBLIC DOCUMENT PLEASE GO TO THE NEW WEBSITE AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MANIFESTO. YOUR NAME, AFFILIATIONS AND ROLE WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF SIGNATORIES WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS.

PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER JOINING THE DEMENTIA ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP HERE.