It’s a complex world full of complex problems- organisational change, the income inequality gap and digital transformation just to name a few. The conventional way of combatting complexity to solve problems no longer works. The great minds of Systemic Design have come together to create a unique and innovative toolkit designed to embrace complexity and change the way that we design solutions. The first of its kind, the toolkit is based on academic research and human-centred design expertise. It is also the first to be endorsed by the Systemic Design Association and is truly changing the way that solutions are designed. We invite you to come and discover how the Systemic Design Toolkit is driving a democratisation and transformation of the solutions design process for all stakeholders involved.

1. design that works for people

3. View > Header & Footer > Footer 3

4. design that works for people

5. View > Header & Footer > Footer 5

7. View > Header & Footer > Footer 7

8. Beating complexity with
complexity:
a toolkit to face big, ugly
realities

9. You can change a lot by doing things
differently.

10. http://fabianoefner.com/projects/disintegrating/#ms-875

11. You can change a lot by doing things
differently.

13. Ordered systems Unordered systems
Simple problems
A fairly straightforward relationships between
cause and effect
Complex ‘wicked’ problems
Multiple, circular, non-obvious relationships between
causes and effects
Complicated problems
Still linear relationships between cause and effect, but
they are much harder to understand
Chaotic problems
Causes and effects are not knowable nor predictable.
Immediate action might be needed to stabilise the
situation
Why
What is a wicked problem?

14. “A class of social system problems, which are ill-
formulated, where the information is confusing,
where there are many clients and decision makers
with conflicting values and where the ramifications
in the whole system are thoroughly confusing.”
Rittel, 1974
Wicked Problems

15. What
Design is evolving

16. Systemic design integrates
systems thinking and
human-centred design thinking,
with the intention of helping
designers cope with complex
problems.
What
Definition
Systems
thinking
Design
thinking
Systemic
design

17. Systems thinking
infused with
design thinking
Methodology
Seven steps
Design thinking
infused with
systems thinking

18. How did we get here?
• Framing:who and what is
involved?
• Listening:what are the most
influencing factors?
• Understanding:what is
causing the behavior?
Methodology
The ideal future at the core
Ideal future and purpose
How do we get there?
• Exploring:what are the
leverage possibilities?
• Designing:how can we
intervene?
• Fostering: how can we care
about the transition?

19. Framing
the system
Step 1

20. Setting the boundaries of your systems space &
timeframe and then, hypothetically, identifying the
constituent parts and relationships.
Framing the system
Step 1

21. Listening to
the system
Step 2

22. Discovering how the interactions lead to the emergent
behaviour by listening to the viewpoints and
experiences of people.
• Listen to as many different perspectives as possible
Verifying your assumptions about the system’s parts,
relationships and behaviours.
Listening to the system
Step 2

23. Understanding
the system
Step 3

24. Seeing how the interactions create the
dynamics/emergent behaviour and identifying the
leverage points you can work with.
Understanding the system
Step 3

25. Defining the
desired future
Step 4

26. Helping the stakeholders to articulate the common
desired future and the intended value creation.
Defining the desired future
Step 4

27. Exploring the
possibility space
Step 5

28. Exploring different possible future concepts
(future-state scenario’s) and from there,
envisioning the intervention strategy.
Finding out which elements can make the system
shift, even with only small interventions (system
acupuncture).
Exploring the possibility space
Step 5

29. Designing the
intervention model
Step 6

30. Identifying and shaping the conditions
and elements for change
• Both allowing the future system to shape and adapt
according to the present context and the possible
future contexts.
Designing the intervention model
Step 6

31. Fostering
the transition
Step 7

32. Helping the interventions to mature, to grow
and finally to be adopted by the system.
Fostering the transition
Step 7

33. Cases

34. Helping pregnant
women in poverty
Case 1

35. Pregnant women in poverty are not reached by
the pregnancy follow up program although they
would benefit from it the most.
• What is causing this behaviour?
• How can we intervene?
Helping pregnant women in poverty
Case 1

36. Describing and visualising the intervention model

37. Embracing diversity
Case 2

38. Why is integration not working, despite all our efforts?
How should we do things differently?
• Who are the actors? What are their perspectives?
• How can we build on existing good practices and
capacities?
Case 2
Embracing diversity

39. Creating a common vision and image for the desired future

40. Stimulating Cross-border
innovation in Europe
Ongoing project
Case 3

41. How can we increase innovation in Europe by:
• Providing innovation services to SMEs
• Making sure the SMEs find their way into the system
• Connecting the many EU programs for SMEs
Case 3
Stimulating cross-border innovation

42. Articulating the ideal future

43. Systemic design
toolkit

44. A methodology and a library of tools
• First of its kind
• Based on academic research and
human-centred design expertise
Created by Namahn in collaboration with
shiftN, MaRS,SDA
A toolkit
for systemic change

45. systemicdesigntoolkit.org

46. Training Sessions at Namahn
Systemic Design
 Tue 7 May
 9:00 – 17:00
Sign up for this and other training sessions at:
http://namahn.com/share/#trainings

47. Follow us on
www.namahn.com
design that works for people