Systems Thinking for Designers: Dealing with Complexity

This workshop looks at the process of understanding Systems, generating insights and adding value to the Design process. How much detail? How many interdependent variables? How many knowledge domains need to contribute? How to meaningfully visualise a System?

A brief overview of Systems Thinking and how it fits with Design.

See Systems Thinking in action in Agribusiness. 35% of all food production world-wide depends on insect pollination. Scientist Joshua Kestel will demonstrate how newly acquired data about insect pollination needs to be incorporated into a Systems Model.

Try it yourself. In groups of 3-5, apply pre-prepared visual artefacts to this food security problem, to draw out more questions and insights. This is also where you get to network, and ask our domain expert, Joshua, specific questions as you progress.

Consider possible uses for Systems Thinking in your own practice. Could Systems Thinking add value to an existing client? Prevent expensive dead ends? Reduce unexpected outcomes? Reveal new opportunities? We will share methods you can take away and try.

This workshop is limited to 40 participants.

The workshop venue cost has been kindly sponsored by Thoughtworks.

This workshop has been developed by Diana Adorno and Andrew Hutchison.