Mission One of Biosphere 2 (1991 - 1993) set a number of world records in closed-life-system work, including sealing tightness, 100% waste recycle and water recycle, and duration of residence of humans. He is currently the chairman of Biospheres, Inc., a private research and development firm designing and preparing to build advanced materially-closed biospheric systems and ecologically enriched biomic systems. In addition, he is co-founder and director of Ecofrontiers, Inc., which owns and manages four ecological research systems in France, Australia, Puerto Rico and England, and also of Planetary Coral Reef Foundation, a non-profit corporation devoted to studying the health and vitality of coral reefs, both at its base site in the Yucatan and the Heraclitus, a research ship now in the Indian Ocean. Allen has over two dozen publications to his credit, over one-half of them scientific, the remainder in poetry, drama, prose, and film.

In the early 80's he was involved with cultivating local industry in Fukui Prefecture and from the latter half of the decade made his way into design through computers. He has developed his education, lecturing, and writing activities with the same passion. He is one of the few designers involved in product development from an awareness of potential problems, and communicates his design theories with gusto. He has been the C.E.O. of Ouzak Design ( International Design Center, Nagoya) since 1996 . He is the design director of the Organization of Japan and of Mac Aid. He has produced numerous products chosen as Good Design by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and has been awarded many prizes including the Design Forum Silver Prize of Japan Design Committee. He is known for his cutlery designs using traditional Takefu craftsmanship. He is presently considered the leader in theory and practice of corporate strategy design and industrial design.