Humans are connected to the environment

Humans are a product of their coupling with the surrounding environment, and the environment is in turn shaped by the actions of humans.[1] Systemic design acknowledges the impact of human actions on environmental, social and cultural systems.[2] Traditional design practices are limited to linear flows of production and consumption that fail to recognise the complex ecology that impacts our behaviours, attitudes and actions. This mindset emphasises the importance of acknowledging the connections of not only material flows, but also between society, culture and the surrounding ecosystem.

Act locally

Complex problems are context specific and need to be understood in relation to their surrounding environment.[3] A local approach seeks to engage stakeholders at a community level to address issues experienced within a neighbourhood, region or ecosystem.[4] This mindset highlights the need to utilise local, social, cultural and material resources. In doing so the cultivation of local development promotes the preservation of the of the culture, increases local jobs and establishes a resilient and self-preserving system.

 Get inspiration from nature

Buckminster Fuller proclaimed that technology evolved by man is amateur compared to the elegance found in nature.[5] He insisted that nature should be recognised as a technology itself. In natural systems there is no such thing as waste, even surplus materials are metabolized.[6] Nature provides insights into creating human systems that are not only symbiotic with the natural world, but also self-sustaining and resilient. The technical term used for emulating the elements, models and systems found in nature to mitigate complex human problems is biomimicry.[7] The word is derived from ancient Greek, 'bio' meaning life, and 'mimesis' meaning imitation.

Redefine waste as a resource

This mindset aims to inspire a new definition of waste, whereby all concepts of waste are redefined as a material resource. Waste does not exist when the components of a product are designed to fit within a circular system.[8] The biological components of a product are designed to be non-toxic and compostable, while the technical elements are designed for reuse with the highest quality retention. The result is a continuous flow of matter and energy to generate new products, services and systems.[9] 

 Create systems that sustain and organise themselves

The concept of self-generating and organising systems dates back to Maturana and Varela's (1974) theory of autopoiesis and Luhmann's autopoietic social systems (1986). Autopoiesis is the term used to signify a system that is capable of copying and maintaining itself. As a mindset the theory highlights the need to create systems that have the capacity to regenerate and organise themselves in order to sustain a state of equilibria. [10] Self-sustaining systems are able to support themselves by employing feedback mechanisms to identify exactly what they need to do to maintain internal balances and regulate external relations. Self-organisation emphasises the importance of cooperation between multiple actors to facilitate conditions that support a collective evolution of the entire system.[11] 

Approach complexity with variety

This mindset acknowledges a concept known as Ashby's law of requisite variety. The law states that the complex systems need to be approached by a variety of design strategies that match the complexity found in the system. [12] In other words, the relations generate the system. [13] The concept can be visualised using the metaphor of a fishing net. The knots that make up the fishing net represent various design strategies, and the connections between each knot (or design) give strength to the strategy as a whole.[14] For this to happen it is important to engage stakeholders that represent a diverse range of perspectives. The dialogue between the participants involved in systemic design should consider as many different values, affiliations and outlooks as possible. In other words, in order to deal with the diversity present in complex problems, you need to have a repertoire of responses that are equally as nuanced.

Work as part of an interdisciplinary team

The nature of systemic design is interdisciplinary and acknowledges that all areas of design are components of one complex system.[15] This involves working as part of an interdisciplinary team with a focus on analysing information in context and synthesising information from diverse sources.[16] An interdisciplinary approach, also known as a ‘horizontal approach’, facilitates the discussion of varied perspectives on a topic in order to create ‘bridges’ between different understandings.[17] In this scenario, the role of the designer shifts to one of a ‘mediator’, with skills needed to transcend personalism and authority, consolidate the team, integrate different types of knowledge and use design tools to define strategies, analyse situations and identify opportunities.[18], [19] A systemic designer navigates the relations between social, economic and environmental factors that impact the quality of everyday life.[20]

Be inquisitive, in the world and with your own biases

Being inquisitive involves asking, rather than assuming. It encourages observation, learning and curiosity to cultivate a deep understanding, which can then be used to inform more accurate action.[21] This action can then be used to stimulate new knowledge. The maps and connections we create are intermingled with our own biases and beliefs.[22] It is integral to be just as curious and thorough with our own judgements, mindset and beliefs. To alleviate these issues, it is important to stay open minded to multiple opinions, and to examine gaps between your own mental models and reality.

Explore top-down and bottom-up approaches

Systemic design maps systems from multiple angles to understand various perspectives and explore all sources of potential.[23] A bottom-up approach represents working from the ground up using a grass roots tactic to engage individuals and creating social change. A top-down approach represents impacting policy, local government, and private or public industry partnerships.[24]

 Envision preferred futures and take action towards reaching them

A defining aspect of design is the belief that the future is subject to creation. Design has impacted every system on Earth, meaning that these systems can also be redesigned.[25] While science develops knowledge about the current situation, design is concerned with envisioning and bringing to life desired futures.[26] Questions of what ought to be engage our imagination and illuminate our values. This process is referred to using a variety of terms, like future finding, idealisation and backcasting and design fictions.[27] This mindset highlights the importance of not only making sense of complex problems, but also envisioning preferable system transitions collectively shaped by societal values.