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Design Toolkit
Design Toolkit
DESIGN
TOOLKIT
Systemic
Design
Toolkit
Guide
Design tools
to tackle
complexity
3
The toolkit
methodology
7 steps
Systems thinking Design thinking
1. Framing the
system
2. Listening to
the system
3. Understanding
the system
4. Defining the
desired future
5. Exploring the
possibility space
6. Designing the
intervention model
7. Fostering the
transition
5
Step 1
Framing the
system
Setting the boundaries
of your system in space
and time, identifying the
hypothetical parts and
relationships.
7
CURRENT SYSTEM
S EC
RE ON
TU OM
RUC IC
ST S
AL
TR
ON
UC
TI
TU
ITU
RE
ST
S
IN
CU
UR
LT
Recommended size: A0
8
Rich context
Materials What
• Rich context template A technique that helps you understand the “big
picture” by mapping the current practices, trends
• sticky notes and innovative initiatives in the system.
• markers
Use it to generate shared understanding about
the current situation and identify the profiles you
should interview in your field studies.
Instructions
9
Step 2
Listening to
the system
Listening to the
experiences of people
and discovering how
the interactions lead to
the system’s behaviour.
Verifying the initial
hypotheses.
11
Recommended size: A2
12
Actants
Materials What
Instructions
13
Step 3
Under-
standing
the system
Seeing how the variables
and interactions
influence the dynamics
and emergent behaviour.
Identifying the leverage
points to work with.
15
Recommended size: A0
16
System map
Materials What
• System map template A technique for visualising the system, its structure
and the interrelations between its elements.
• interview notes
• actants Map the system to develop shared understanding
• sticky notes between the stakeholders about its complexity and
interdependencies. Also, use the map to discover
• markers
the leverage points in the system.
Instructions
17
Step 4
Defining
the desired
future
Helping the stakeholders
articulate the common
desired future and the
intended value creation.
19
Recommended size: A1
20
Value proposition
Materials What
Instructions
21
Step 5
Exploring the
possibility
space
Exploring possible
ideas for intervening
on the leverage points.
Empowering the ideas
by working with the
paradoxes in the system.
23
Recommended size: A0
24
Intervention
strategy
Materials What
Instructions
25
Step 6
Designing the
intervention
model
Defining the engine for
change and its variations.
Iterating by envisioning
its implementation in
different contexts.
27
Recommended size: A4
28
Intervention
model
Materials What
Instructions
29
COLLABORATION
Compete
Striving to gain or win
something that is scarce
Intangib
le
PRESEN
Existing
only in th
CE
e mind
COLLABORATION
Teamwork
h
e by touc
scernibl
Real, di
CE
PRESEN
Tangible
e
Intuitiv it
giving
ithout
tood w t
Unders much though
UNDE
RSTAND
Free
ING
BUSINESS MODEL
skill
Transf or behaviou
UNDE
erred
knowle r
dge,
Taugh
t
BUSINESS MODEL
goods or services
Exchanged for money,
Paid
30
Paradox cards
Materials What
Instructions
31
Step 7
Fostering the
transition
Defining how the
interventions will mature,
grow and finally be
adopted in the system.
33
Recommended size: A0
34
Roadmap for
transition
Materials What
Instructions
35
About
the toolkit
“Remember, always, that
everything you know,
and everything everyone
knows, is only a model.
Get your model out there
where it can be viewed.
Invite others to challenge
your assumptions and
add their own”.
Donella Meadows
Thinking in Systems: A Primer
37
The creators
38
Kristel Van Ael,
Namahn
Philippe Vandenbroeck,
Shiftn
Alex Ryan,
Mars Solutions Lab
Peter Jones,
Systemic Design
Association
39
SYSTEMIC
DESIGN
TOOLKIT
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